S

  

TATE BOARD OF EDUCATION

 

F. PHILIP HANDY,

Chairman

T. WILLARD FAIR,

Vice Chairman

 

Members

DONNA G. CALLAWAY

JULIA L. JOHNSON

ROBERTO MARTÍNEZ

PHOEBE RAULERSON

LINDA K. TAYLOR

 

 

 

  

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

August 9, 2005

 

 

 

MEMORANDUM

 

TO

 

District School Superintendents

 

FROM:

 

Pam Stewart

 

SUBJECT:

 

Florida Troops to Teachers

 

 

As we start the new school year, I expect much of your attention is focused on finding and

retaining highly qualified teachers, especially in the critically needed areas of math, science and

exceptional student education.

 

I know your district is taking advantage of every valid source of talented teachers, but I wanted

to take a moment and remind you of one such resource, Florida’s Troops to Teachers program.

This career transition program has been very effective for us. Florida ranks second in participant

placements in the nation. We have assisted 582 participants in obtaining teaching positions

through this program. The program provides counseling assistance in teacher certification and

employment strategies. It provides two forms of financial assistance to qualified participants.

Participants can receive either a stipend up to $5,000 to pay for certification requirements or a

bonus of $10,000 if they are hired in a high needs school. Participants who accept the financial

assistance must commit to teach for a minimum of three years.

 

Data for Florida’s Troops to Teachers program follows:

 

•

 

This is a mature group. Senior level noncommissioned and commissioned officers

comprise 64% of the participants.

•

 

Over 81% of the participants are male compared to 22% of Florida’s teachers.

 

 

PAM STEWART

DEPUTY CHANCELLOR FOR K-12 EDUCATOR QUALITY

 

325 W. GAINES STREET • SUITE 514 • TALLAHASSEE, FL 32399-0400 • (850) 245-0509 • www.fldoe.org

John L. Winn

Commissioner of Education

FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

 

---

August 9, 2005

Memorandum

Page 2

 

•

 

33% of the participants belong to a minority/ethnic group compared to 25% of Florida’s

teachers.

•

 

For Troops to Teachers participants hired for the 99-00 school year, 90% are still in

education compared to 66% of 98-99 Florida College of Education graduates who started

teaching during the 99-00 school year.

•

 

34% teach math/science, 9% teach special needs, 15% teach social science/English and

7% teach elementary education. This data indicates that nearly half of the Troops to

Teachers participants teach high need subjects, and, while only 7% are teaching

elementary education, most are male.

 

If you would like additional information on the program and its participants, please contact Ron

Burton, Program Coordinator for the Florida Troops to Teachers program, at 888-358-7667, or at

troopstoteachers@fldoe.org .

 

 

PS/rb