Old Dominion University, Room 113 Education Building, Norfolk, Virginia 23529-0157
Phone: (757) 683-3327 or (800) 560-4317
http://www.odu.edu/troopstoteachers
Troops to Teachers (TTT) was established in 1994 as a Department of Defense program. It is funded by the U.S. Department of Education and is managed by the Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES) in Pensacola, FL. Old Dominion University is the headquarters for Virginia TTT with all Commonwealth of Virginia institutions of higher learning participating in the program. The primary objective of TTT is to help recruit quality teachers for schools that serve low-income families throughout the United States. TTT helps relieve the teacher shortages, especially in math, science, special education and other high-need subject areas, and assists military personnel in making a successful transition to a second career in teaching.
TTT provides a $5,000.00 stipend to assist military personnel who are (1) retired, (2) within one year of retiring with an approved retirement date, (3) honorably discharged with 6 or more years of service and willing to obligate in the active reserves on a three-year contract, or (4) separated for physical disability on or after 8 Jan 02; these personnel must apply within 4 years after separation. TTT is also available to members of the drilling Reserves/National Guard with 10 or more years of total service. Military personnel with Bachelor’s degrees may use the stipend to pay for any approved teacher licensure program in any state-accredited college. The stipend may not be used for training principals, guidance counselors or private-school teachers. TTT participants are obligated to teach for three years in a high-need school district.
Participants hired to teach in a setting where 50% or more of the students are on free or reduced lunches or their Individual Disability Education Act (IDEA) percentage meets the criteria specified by the Department of Education are eligible for a $10,000.00 bonus. Acceptance of any monies obligates the Troops to Teachers participant to teach for three years in a poverty-level school.
Spouses to Teachers (STT) is designed to assist spouses of active duty military in their pursuit of K-12 teaching positions in both public and private schools in the U.S. STT provides information, counseling and guidance to eligible spouses regarding teacher certification requirements, routes to certification, employment potential, financial assistance, and assistance with employment searches. Eligible participants are spouses of (1) active duty personnel, (2) spouses of members of the Selected Reserve, National Guard, or (3) spouses of members of the Individual Ready Reserve recalled to active duty. A maximum amount of up to $600.00 may be provided to eligible spouses to reimburse the cost of tests required for state teacher licensure/certification.