Troops to Teachers (TTT) Program
This program is a special focus area exclusively for the US Government Troops-to-Teachers program. This program option offers veterans, specifically those with technical skills and knowledge, the ability to share their life experiences and education with secondary students in Career and Technical Education classroom settings.
History
Troops to Teachers (TTT) was established in 1994 as a Department of Defense program. The National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2000 transferred the responsibility for program oversight and funding to the U.S. Department of Education but continued operation by the Department of Defense. Since 1994, over 17,000 Troops to Teachers participants have been hired nationally in public schools.
Goals and Objectives
Reflecting the focus of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, TTT's primary objective is to help recruit quality teachers for schools that serve low-income families throughout the U.S. TTT helps relieve the teacher shortages, especially in math, science, special education and other high-need subject areas, and assists military personnel in making a successful transition to second careers in teaching.
Program Benefits
Troops to Teachers offers up to a total of $10,000 in financial assistance to eligible participants.
Troops to Teachers participants who accept financial assistance in the form of a Stipend or Bonus incur an obligation to teach for three years in schools or school districts that meet specified criteria as outlined below:
Stipend
Participants accepting the $5K stipend are obligated to teach for three years in any U.S. public school within a school district that has at least 20% of the students who come from families living below the poverty level, or a U.S. public school house where at least 50% of students are eligible for the free or reduced cost lunch program or have a "high percentage" (determined annually) of students with disabilities, so long as that school is in a school district that has between 10 and 20% of students who come from poverty level families.
Bonus
Participants may accept a bonus of $10K in lieu of the stipend if they are employed as a teacher in a school district that has at least 10% or greater of the students who come from families living below the poverty level and are teaching in a school house where at least 50% of students are eligible for the free or reduced cost lunch program, or teaching in a school that has a "high percentage" (determined annually) of students with disabilities.
Individual Counseling
During the initial counseling session, the counselor will:
- Determine which subjects the participant is most eligible to teach
- Discuss licensure options and pathways
- Provide an individualized Teacher Licensure Action Plan
- Generally inform the participant of stipend, bonus, and other financial assistance available
- Discuss employment opportunities to include substitute teaching and alternative routes to licensure
- Offer assistance with resume building
- Provide letters of recommendation if appropriate
After personalized counseling, the participant is expected to:
- Enroll in and complete a teacher licensure program
- Coordinate with the national office for stipend/bonus funding
- Obtain a substitute license if desired
- Obtain a full-time position within a school district when qualified
State counselors will provide continuous assistance by:
- Providing notification of job openings
- Providing recommendation letters as necessary
- Conducting employment workshops concerning resume building, interview skills, and financial aid information
At Wayne State University, we are specifically interested in working with veterans in the Career and Technical Education areas. For Click eligibility and to learn more about our TTT program, please contact:
Proud to Serve Again - Posted by Kim Hiebert on January 07, 2014
"My days as an enlisted U.S. Army soldier and alter working for the U.S. Military as a counselor and advisor taught me the value of leadership. Leadership, in my mind, is without a doubt the most important attribute an individual can have when leading a squad platoon, flight, division or classroom toward an objective.." Read more
Ex-troops head back to high school as teachers - Posted by Kim Hiebert on July 24, 2013
One trained soldiers to use Stinger missiles to shoot down enemy jets and helicopters. Another sailed silently beneath the seas in a submarine during the Cold War. A third piloted Black Hawk helicopters in Iraq. All three are now transferring their wartime skills to classrooms as teachers. Along with thousands of other former members of the military, they're part of an effort to bolster America's teaching corps with worldly veterans whose leadership skills and life experiences could be valuable in the classroom.
