2. 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 Future Published: January 2010

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. The West Virginia Troops to Teachers Program

6. 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

7. Benefits to School Districts Research 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

8. 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

9. WV Achievements June 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

10. Hires in West Virginia 1994 – October 2012 JROTC = 41 Science = 6 Math = 4 Special Education = 4 Elementary Education / Multi-subjects = 3 Social Studies = 3 Vocational = 2 English / Reading =2 Fine Arts = 1 Foreign Languages = 1 Physical Education = 1 Business Education = 1 41 JROTC 28 Non - JROTC 69 Total Hires

11. Program Benefits Career Counseling Job Placement Assistance Financial Assistance Up to a $5,000 Stipend or Up to a $10,000 Bonus

12. Eligibility Two options: View the eligibility criteria at http://wvde.state.wv.us/troopstoteach ers/ http://wvde.state.wv.us/troopstoteach ers/ Use the self-determination guide at www.proudtoserveagain.com. www.proudtoserveagain.com (Determines current eligibility only)

13. Registration Two options for sending your application: Register online at www.proudtoserveagain.comwww.proudtoserveagain.com Or Fill out a registration packet which can be found at http://wvde.state.wv.us/troopstoteachers/ http://wvde.state.wv.us/troopstoteachers/ Then, mail all required documentation to: DANTES Troops to Teachers 6490 Saufley Field Road Pensacola, FL 32509-5243

14. Contact Information Troops to Teachers National Office 1.800.231.6242 DANTES ttt@navy.milttt@navy.mil or Mr. Robert P. Mellace III West Virginia Troops to Teachers Coordinator West Virginia Department of Education Division of Educator Quality and Service Support Office of Federal Programs 1.800.982.2378 1.304.558.7010 rmellace@access.k12.wv.us

16. 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!

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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

20. Pilot

21. 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

22. 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

23. Contact Information Doug Cipoletti Transition to Teaching Project Director West Virginia Department of Education Division of Educator Quality and Service Support Office of Professional Preparation 1.800.982.2378 1.304.558.7010 dccipole@access.k12.wv.us

24. Questions?