Note: The Troops to Teachers program closed to new enrollees Oct. 1, 2020, the program is slated to end permanently on Oct. 1, 2021. The program underwent several changes and was funded by several government agencies throughout its existence. If it does return again, Military.com will keep you up to date.
This information is for historical purposes only.
Troops to Teachers (TTT) in Texas and the Houston Independent School District (ISD), the largest school district in Texas and the 7th largest in the nation, are enjoying a partnership benefiting both Veterans and Texas school children.
In an attempt to fill critical shortages in the district, Houston ISD responded to a call from Troops to Teachers in Texas to form a partnership giving way to thousands of TTT members seeking to transition into a teaching career following military Service. The partnership is informal in nature — school districts are contacted yearly and asked to submit their vacancies to the TTT office. TTT then posts the vacancies under the job opportunities tab of the TTT website and sends an email to all eligible members giving them notice of the teaching opportunities in their area.
The Career and Technical Education (CTE) certification area in particular is experiencing a serious shortage of teachers in Texas. CTE encompasses several different skill areas, some that do not require a bachelor’s degree. Within trades and industries, certifications are available in areas such as welding, automotive technicians, diesel mechanics, culinary arts and many more. In fact, there are 153 skills in Houston ISD that Service members could qualify to teach using their military experience. Since many military occupational specialties correlate with the CTE skills, it became apparent to both TTT and Houston ISD that a partnership was indeed a win for both.
Recently, talent recruitment managers from Houston ISD traveled to Fort Hood, Texas, to participate jointly with Texas TTT at a quarterly pre-retirement orientation. The orientations normally host around 300 soon-to-be-retiring Fort Hood soldiers. It was a prime opportunity for Texas TTT representatives to explain what the Troops to Teachers program is and how it can help support transition, and for Houston ISD’s lead recruitment manager for CTE, Victoria Real, to talk about job opportunities in the Houston area.
Information provided gave Service members tools and resources they could use in the pursuit of a teaching certification, and also led to a reduction in Houston ISD teacher shortages. A win for Service members and a win for Houston students.
To find out about teaching opportunities in the Houston area, contact Victoria Real at vreal@ houstonisd.org. For more information on Troops to Teachers in Texas, contact Dr. Christene Nemetsky at christene.nemetsky@esc13.txed.net.
For more information on the Troops To Teachers program see Military.com's Troops To Teachers page.
