who will teach? experience matters

Who Will Teach? Experience Matters

Who Will Teach? Experience Matters

• Between 2004 and 2008, 300,000 veteran teachers left the workforce for retirement.

See the Shifts in the Age of the National Teaching Workforce.

• In 1987-88 the typical teacher had 15 years of experience, but by 2007-08 the typical teacher had just 1 to 2 years of experience.

See the Dramatic Shifts in K-12 Teaching Experience.

• West Virginia will be impacted by these shifts. Schools that have depended on a core of veteran teachers are already seeing those teachers retire, and in some cases are creating new work arrangements for teacher at or nearing retirement.

By: The National Commission on Teaching and America’s FuturePublished: January 2010

West Virginia’s Response

• Newly developed Critical Needs Listing

• Transition to Teaching and Troops to Teachers are working with high need counties to fill their hard to staff areas by actively supporting incoming educators.

West Virginia Critical Needs Listing• Offers a list of each school district’s unique personnel needs by simply selecting a county or

specific certification area.• Provides personnel directors the ability to access their own data and update it as frequently

as new needs for personnel are identified.• Job seekers will be instantly provided a list of administrative, teacher and service personnel

needs along with the contact information of each school district’s personnel office.• Allows potential applicants to gain a true understanding of each county’s needs for new

personnel, even when a job has yet to be posted for a position. • Maximizes the number of highly qualified applicants for each school district’s hard to fill job

vacancies.

The West Virginia Troops to Teachers Program

What is Troops to Teachers?

• Federal veterans benefits and incentives program

• Includes Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard

• Nationally successful as a teacher recruitment tool for America’s school districts

• Provides veterans with an opportunity to begin a secondary career in education

• Impacts low-income schools and school districts

Benefits to School DistrictsResearch has proven that Troops to Teachers members:• Teach in high need subject areas• Enhance student achievement substantially and

statistically higher than other teachers in both reading and mathematics

• Willing to relocate and teach in rural areas • More likely to return to the classroom after their

initial school year than the average teacher• Source of diversity and male teachers• A significant benefit to schools with low-SES and

traditionally underperforming students

WV History

• 1994 – 2007 West Virginia averaged of 1 Troops to Teachers hire annually

• West Virginia Department of Education contacted the Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES)

• May 2008: State manager established

WV AchievementsJune 1, 2008 – October 1, 2012:

• Provided career counseling to more than 880 veterans

• Registered 349 veterans• Hired 45 program members

State program effectiveness report cards from DANTES:

FY 2009 = B, FY 2010 = C, FY 2011 = A, FY 2012 = A

Hires in West Virginia1994 – October 2012

JROTC = 41Science = 6Math = 4Special Education = 4Elementary Education / Multi-subjects = 3Social Studies = 3Vocational = 2

English / Reading =2Fine Arts = 1Foreign Languages = 1Physical Education = 1Business Education = 141 JROTC28 Non - JROTC69 Total Hires

Program Benefits

Career Counseling

Job Placement Assistance

Financial Assistance

Up to a $5,000 Stipendor

Up to a $10,000 Bonus

Eligibility

Two options:

• View the eligibility criteria at http://wvde.state.wv.us/troopstoteachers/

• Use the self-determination guide at www.proudtoserveagain.com.

(Determines current eligibility only)

RegistrationTwo options for sending your application:

Register online at www.proudtoserveagain.com

Or

Fill out a registration packet which can be found at http://wvde.state.wv.us/troopstoteachers/

Then, mail all required documentation to:DANTES Troops to Teachers

6490 Saufley Field RoadPensacola, FL 32509-5243

Contact InformationTroops to Teachers National Office

1.800.231.6242DANTES ttt@navy.mil

or Mr. Robert P. Mellace III

West Virginia Troops to Teachers CoordinatorWest Virginia Department of Education

Division of Educator Quality and Service SupportOffice of Federal Programs

1.800.982.23781.304.558.7010

rmellace@access.k12.wv.us

History

• The Transition to Teaching Project (TtT) was a federally funded alternative certification program that targeted high-needs areas in schools across West Virginia. Using its successful working model, TtT has partnered with Clay, Hampshire, Lincoln, Logan, McDowell, Mingo and Wayne County to create West Virginia’s second state funded TtT Cohort!

Success

• We began tracking TtT interest in November 2008.

– 22,783 people have visited our website– Over 1,400 people have formally applied

to TtT– Over 900 have been pre-approved to

participate– Over 125 fully certified through TtT

How does TtT work?

• Participants fulfill all requirements outlined in WV Code §18A-3-1a which include:– Completing 18 hours of graduate level

coursework – Passing all required Praxis exams– Successfully complete the beginning teacher

induction program– Earn County and College recommendation for

certification

What makes TtT different?

• Beginning teachers receive weekly visits from TtT Academic Coaches AND a county provided mentor

• Program provides financial incentives including tuition assistance, a laptop computer, and additional educational resources

• Program and County have added flexibility in approving teachers for certification

Pilot

2012 – 2013 Accomplishments

• Over 200 qualified applicants were recruited and pursued positions in the Pilot Counties

• 26 applicants secured positions• Hired a TtT Academic Coach serving

only McDowell County

How can you get involved?

• Contact TtT Project Director to express interest

• Review current staffing and analyze certification status to determine needs

• Build a customized program based on individual county need– We currently have the capability to recruit

and certify individual in grades 5-12 for both general education and multi-categorical special education

Contact Information

Doug CipolettiTransition to Teaching Project DirectorWest Virginia Department of EducationDivision of Educator Quality and Service

SupportOffice of Professional Preparation

1.800.982.23781.304.558.7010

dccipole@access.k12.wv.us

Questions?