Troops-To-Teachers Program
Abstract
The original goal of the National Troops to Teachers (TTT) program was to recruit and facilitate employment of transitioning service members into the teaching field as elementary, secondary and career technical teachers (www.proudtoserveagain.com). Over the past 20 years, the Ohio TTT program has contributed to these efforts by recruiting, counseling, and assisting over 500 veterans to enter the teaching profession (470 are still working in Ohio K-12 schools). Looking towards the future, Ohio is excited to continue to lead and support veterans who choose the teaching profession as a second career. In the next twelve months beginning in April 2017, we propose new and innovative approaches to Ohio TTT detailed below which will increase by 120+ the pool of veterans signed-up and working to complete teacher licensure requirements, and the number of veterans successfully entering the Ohio teaching ranks to 20+. These recruitment and placement goals will be set higher after the first year; as during the first year, our staff will reset, strengthen and improve the existing Ohio TTT program supports. Ohio TTT will expand our presence by systematically partnering with other programs and organizations with similar goals and objectives; as well as through increased marketing and advertising efforts involving Internet and social media tools targeting the 220,000 veterans, ages 20-50 living throughout the state of Ohio (https://www.va.gov/vetdata/Veteran_Population.asp). Ohio TTT is committed to increasing efforts to attract eligible veterans and members of the armed forces considering a second career in teaching to participate in the program. This goal will be achieved through outreach programs using traditional advertising and electronic communications methods and various social media (e.g., LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram). Ohio TTT will connect with active duty service men and women transitioning to the teaching profession following their final year of military service. Through new connections and opportunities associated with the Ohio Department of Education and the Ohio Department of Higher Education, Ohio TTT will work to establish an advisory committee comprised of education and veteran stakeholder groups to address barriers that confront veterans entering the teaching profession as well as to create and coordinate an on-time, accurate, technical and social support network for those service members and veterans who are Proud to Serve Again. Ohio TTT will work to reduce barriers to state teacher certification by advocating for institutions to accept and award college credit for military training, experience, and coursework under Ohio GI Promise legislation (https://www.ohiohighered.org/node/258). Additionally, Ohio TTT will partner with state and private colleges of teacher preparation to promote the reduction of course fees and to strengthen college programs that provide academic and social support to veterans participating in teacher preparation programs. The Ohio TTT office has received over 1,000 inquiries annually by phone and email requesting specific assistance with Ohio teacher education and credentialing requirements. In order to meet our outreach goals and remain abreast of the ongoing changes to the state’s education and credentialing requirements, we will involve additional new and existing full and part-time support staff. As a result, Ohio TTT website content, counseling materials and newsletters will be updated routinely to reflect the new streamlined Ohio alternative licensure option and other Ohio education and credentialing requirements (http://dvs.ohio.gov/Veterans_Education/).
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Sep 13, 2018
- Source ID
- N002441710029
Entities
People
- John Soloninka
Organizations
- United States Department of Defense
- United States Department of Education