Troops To Teachers, A New Way To Serve

This Veteran’s Day, the Tennessee Department of Education honors our national heroes for their service to the country and the classroom. Tennessee military personnel have the opportunity to start a second career as the great teachers and leaders needed in education through the Tennessee Troops to Teachers program.“Tennessee is looking to fill our classrooms with highly qualified talent and positive role models,” said Education Commissioner Bruce Opie. “The men and women that have served our country are not only respected leaders, but the dedicated professionals that have the diversity, experience, and the skills to make a difference in classrooms.”
Troops to Teachers works to improve education by providing motivated, experienced, and dedicated personnel for the nation’s high-poverty classrooms. The program helps relieve teacher shortages, especially in math, science, special education and other critical subject areas, and assists military personnel in making successful transitions to second careers in teaching. State offices provide counseling and assistance regarding certification requirements, routes to state certification, and employment leads. Successful program candidates obtain certification or licensing as elementary, secondary, or vocational teachers. To date, 411 former military service and veterans in Tennessee have successfully started their second career through the program.
“Teaching is a rewarding career. Tennessee’s Troops to Teachers office has counseled hundreds of interested military personnel, advising them on routes and programs to achieve full teacher certification in Tennessee, and referring them to school districts for employment,” said Cliff Yager, Director of the Tennessee Troops to Teachers program.
The Troops to Teachers program is funded by the U.S. Department of Education and administered by the state Department of Education in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Defense.