A recently announced grant from the U.S. Department of Defense will fund a Troops to Teachers program in the W&M School of Education that trains veterans and soon-to-be veterans to become K-12 educators. The Troops to Teachers Virginia Center opened in June and offers veterans, and those who are within one year of exiting the military, guidance in meeting educational and licensure requirements to enter a variety of teaching fields. The center partners with experienced teachers who will serve as mentors to veterans during their transition to the teaching profession.
“The Troops to Teachers grant and center will be a game-changer for so many veterans and soon-to-be veterans across the Commonwealth,” says Virginia Secretary of Education Dietra Trent. “As Virginia and the nation continue to experience a teacher shortage, now more than ever we need more qualified and inspired professionals in the classroom, and that is exactly what this program will help us provide to our students.”