Troops to Teachers comes to South Dakota
Former military personnel are finding their way into classrooms nationwide, via an innovative program called Troops to Teachers. The program helps military personnel move from the armed forces into the classroom. It benefits schools by providing them with experienced professional people, who can help to ease teacher shortages.
As of January 2005, more than 8,000 Troops to Teachers participants had been hired in the nation’s public schools. Eleven participants will teach in South Dakota schools during the 2005-06 school year.
“It’s a win-win situation for both schools and participants,” said Melody Schopp, director of accreditation and teacher quality, South Dakota Department of Education.
The program connects participants with information, institutions and people that can help them meet state certification requirements for teachers. They also benefit from the financial assistance that the program provides. Stipends of up to $5,000 are available to qualified recipients, to help cover the costs of participating in a teacher preparation program. Bonuses of up to $10,000 are available to those who commit to teach in a specific high-need school for three years.
A high-need school is defined as one that has a 50 percent or more free and reduced lunch participation rate or a 13 percent Individual with Disabilities Education Act rate.
Participating schools benefit from the program, too. They get well-educated, experienced professionals to serve in their classrooms. “The people who participate in this program tend to be stable, dedicated men and women. Historically, they have proven to be good role models for students,” Schopp said.
For more information about the program and how your school can participate, contact the Northern Plains Troops to Teachers regional office at 1-866-478-3224. www.montana.edu/ttt.
|
