The Regional Office of Education is pleased to support Troops to Teachers. The purpose of TTT is to assist eligible military personnel to transition to a new career as public school teachers in “high-need” schools. A network of State TTT Offices has been established to provide participants with counseling and assistance regarding certification requirements, routes to state certification, and employment leads. The Illinois TTT homepage provides information about the program, Illinois State Board of Education resource links, job opportunities in Illinois, connections to TTT mentors as well as links to Veterans services. For information about Illinois Troops To Teachers and Illinois TTT participants, please contact the program manager via email or toll-free phone troops.teachers@illinois.gov 1-866-372-3157. As of December 2007, over 10,500 Troops to Teachers participants have been hired nationally in public schools through the program.

Goals and Objectives

Reflecting the focus of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, the primary objective of TTT is to help recruit quality teachers for schools that serve low-income families throughout America . TTT helps relieve teacher shortages, especially in math, science, special education and other high-needs subject areas, and assists military personnel in making successful transitions to second careers in teaching. Pending availability of funds, financial assistance may be provided to eligible individuals as stipends up to $5K to help pay for teacher certification costs or as bonuses of $10K to teach in schools serving a high percentage of students from low-income families. Participants who accept the Stipend or Bonus must agree to teach for three years in schools that serve students from low-income families in accordance with the authorizing legislation.

Proud to Serve Again!

As the teacher shortage continues to grow, school districts are increasingly turning to TTT to find new teacher candidates. School districts that hire one military veteran through TTT almost always come back looking for more “just like him/her.” Military veterans have established a reputation as excellent teachers and exemplary role models for today’s students. The leadership skills, breadth of experience, dedication, commitment and maturity that our former marines, sailors, soldiers and airmen bring to the classroom are attributes sought by public school administrators and parents. If you are considering teaching as a second career, register online or submit a Registration Form to Troops to Teachers and join the thousands of other military veterans who are “Proud to Serve Again.”
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Why are Troops to Teachers members the perfect candidates for your teaching staff?
• 37% of participants are minorities compared to 15% of the teachers that are minorities nationwide
• Participants are filling high needs subject areas as 27% of participants are teaching mathematics in contrast to 7% of all teachers
• 46% of troops to teachers participants have chosen to teach in the sciences, another high needs area, as opposed to only 18% of all teachers nationwide
• 62% of participants hold a master’s degree in an area other than education and 27% hold a masters degree in education
• 82% of teachers entering through the Troops to Teachers program are male in an ever increasingly female workforce
• Participants are also more likely to move from where they are to where the demand for teachers is greatest (including rural areas within the state)

Regional Office of Education #40 - Carlinville Office – Will move to 826 North Broad Street in Carlinville by the end of June 2010. Constituents needing assistance with GED registration, home schooling, educator certification and renewal, educator criminal background checks, school building certification/inspections, detachment/annexation, school bus driver training and certification, or assistance with school related issues are encouraged to visit the ROE website at www.roe40.com for updates and changes to the office. 

The Carlinville Regional Office of Education will close June 28, 2010 and reopen July 6, 2010 in order to transition to the new sites.  The Jerseyville site of the Regional Office of Education will remain open during the move.  The number for the Jerseyville Office is 618-498-5541.