Those Who Can DoTeach!

By Jim Romeo

" ithin the first month of full-time teaching I had a student throw his desk across the back of the room because I would not give him the answers to the test questions (that he was in the process of taking). Two days later he was back on class. I began to feel like Sidney Poitier in To Sir With Love. That didn't stop Leonard A. Zigment , a retired Lt. Colonel in the U.S. Air Force from pursuing his second career as a Math Teacher at Mesa Ridge High School. One solution to the shortage of teachers in America just might be under our own nose - those getting out of the military. "The teacher shortage issue is not a new issue, but it is a more pressing, more important and a more relevant issue today as teacher retirements and student enrollments are soaring, and the need for qualified new teachers grows more urgent" says Melinda Anderson, a spokesperson for the National Education Association. "With a projected need for 2 million more teachers over the next 10 years, policymakers and educators have recognized the need to meet current demand with more creative options. " Teacher shortages are mostly found in Math and Science, Special Education, and some Foreign Language subjects, though lately they're seen in other subjects as well. Military members are often already trained in these subjects, and in addition, they know how to administer and practice discipline in a group setting. But in order for someone who's getting out to enter a classroom as a teacher, there are certain requirements that they must meet. Usually, they require a bachelors degree and a teaching certificate which falls under the requirements of the state. Private schools normally don't require a teaching certificate, though it depends on state regulations. This would include religious and non-secular private institutions that are tuition based rather than funded by the local school district. One institution that recognizes the valuable resource in military members as teachers is Old Dominion University's Military Career Transition Program (MCTP). Since its inception in 1988, it has been extraordinarily successful with 150 new teachers graduating and becoming certified educators each year. The program offers a distance learning program through its TeleTechNet courses.

Most unique to the school is a pilot program which allows a separating military member to attain certification in only three weeks. This pilot program is underwritten by the Virginia Department of Education, and is only available to separating military members, requires a bachelors degree, and is available at no cost. "The draw of the military into education is the same thing that drew them into the military. It's service" says Dr. Bob McDonald, Director of the Military Career Transition Program (MCTP) at Old Dominion University. "And the schools like military members too. They're seeking somebody who is mature, who's been successful and they're going to be there for a while" And for a former military member, teaching doesn't always have to be at the K-12 level, or even the high school level. With an advanced degree, one can teach at the college level or beyond. That was the case for Doug Brown, an engineering professor at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, NY. Brown retired from the U.S. Coast Guard as a Commander with 20 years of service. The initial culture shock of the classroom was daunting, but something he quickly rose above and came to savor. "I was told that one of the toughest tasks for new teachers was how to pace your presentation of material, and that it was a good idea to be prepared a couple of lesson plans ahead" says Brown. "This seemed like good advice, so I was armed with three classes worth of material when I faced my first group of students. I machine-gunned my well-rehearsed material at them so fast that I covered all three-lesson plans, including my overhead projections, in thirty minutes. I didn't know what else to do, so I gave them reading assignments to review all the pages of material I blew past them and told them they could leave 20 minutes early. I ran back to my office, and sat there convinced that my decision to teach was a very big mistake. Fortunately, things got much better very quickly. " One way that ex-military members can use their leadership skills and training is by serving as a teacher in underprivileged communities. "Most of my kids at Esparto High School are migrant farm working kids" says Dr. Edward F. Murphy, who teaches Spanish and English as a second language at Esparto High School in the migrant farm community of Esparto, California. Murphy retired as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force. "They have nothing, so

anything you give them they will appreciate. Their parents earn around $11,000 a year. I started an after school tutoring program for these kids, a Latino summer school to teach them English and Algebra, and then started a parent's English class to teach the parents English as night. I showed them how to study. Now, instead of only 1 Hispanic being on the honor roll, and 50 percent of the Hispanics getting C and D or F grades, 30 percent of the Hispanics are on the honor rolls, and the top students in the school are now Hispanics. Such sentiment has also been the reward for retired Air Force Colonel, Len Zigment. He recalls a moment when he was teaching a girl with drug and alcoholic problems. "Somehow she told me her birthday was coming up as did most of the other students" says Zigmet. " I decided to give her a small box of chocolates as a surprise. She cried the rest of the class. I have no idea if she'll quit drugs or drinking but she now knows that there are people in this world who care about others. Words cannot describe the feelings of success that a teacher has when this occurs." The Department of Defense Troops to Teachers program was established on January 19, 1994. Under this program, military personnel have the opportunity to pursue a new career in public education. The goal of the program is to help improve American education by providing mature, motivated, experienced, and dedicated personnel for the nation's classrooms. In addition, the program provides positive role models for the nation's public school students and helps relieve teacher shortages, especially in the subjects of math and science. While the program began with Federal subsidy to school districts and teachers, it presently functions as a means of placing separating military members into schoold districts with a definite need for teachers. " Teaching is a whole new world" says Sandra SessomsPenny, a teacher at Smithfield Middle School in Smithfield, Virginia. She is a retired, U.S. Air Force, Senior Master Sergeant, with nearly 22 years of service. "Bring from the military the discipline and leadership skills instilled into you because it will be needed and must be used with confidence in the classroom. Students, your peers, and others will count upon your expertise as a leader in the classroom and in the school."

A Noble Profession Teaching is a noble occupation, and separating military members are a good fit for such a career track. Listen to their views on the profession, and you're likely to be convinced. I showed them how I went from the welfare rolls, living on food stamps and welfare, until I could join the military. I showed them how I have succeeded from a 2.0 average in high school, to a 3.98 average in my bachelor's, masters, then doctorate in business. Learn to bring yourself to the students' level. Walk a mile in their shoes. Visit their parents, homes, and do things for them.

workshops and seminars that would help make me a better teacher. I tried to bring technology into the classroom. I made myself available to students after school not only for help in my teaching field but also for help in other subjects. This impressed the administrators.

Kevin Carter, Ninth Grade U.S. History teacher, Southwestern high School, Baltimore Maryland and retired U.S. Army Signal Officer

This article is reprinted from The Army Times

Dr. Edward F. Murphy Language Teacher at Esparto High School in the agricultural community of Esparto, California. Retired, Second Lieutenant, U.S. Air Force
As an officer and senior enlisted I was used to giving orders and not having my orders questioned. As a teacher kids minds are always questioning your facts either for explanations or simply to question and be wise or a smartAlec."

Jim Romeo
1008 Weeping Willow Drive Chesapeake, VA 23322
757-574-5962 freelancewriting@yahoo.com www.JimRomeo.net

Kenneth Ressler, retired Lieutenant, U.S. Navy, and presently teaches in Rhode Island.

When I held my alternative license, I applied at one school and eventually made the top three candidates. However, when the principal called me in she lectured me on how training was not even close to teaching. I've remembered those words everyday. Although I didn't need them, I was selected as one of the 5 top teachers in Colorado Springs in 1999 (my second year). I was astounded by that however I just learned that I was selected by Radio Shack as one of the Top Twenty Teachers in the USA for 2000. I think that principal underestimated the potential of military candidates.

Leonard A. Zigment , Lt Colonel, Retired, USAF , Math Teacher Mesa Ridge High School, Mesa Ridge Arizona
During my first year of teaching I developed a reputation as someone who came to school everyday, on time, ready to teach. I had reasonable expectations for my students and treated everyone with respect. Although I had a curriculum that prescribed what I was to teach I also was interested in what my students wanted to learn. I worked hard trying to blend their needs and the curriculum. I was also eager to adopt proven, progressive teaching methods and strategies. I went to the administrators and asked them to send me to