State creates fast track to get non-teachers into classrooms

Tennessee is making it easier for people with real-world experience in hard-to-fill teaching areas such as math, science and foreign language to become teachers.

Gov. Phil Bredesen's new Teach Tennessee program — which was unanimously approved Friday by the state Board of Education — will allow today's scientists, mathematicians and engineers to become tomorrow's teachers in a short period of time. In fact, anyone accepted into the program in the coming weeks could be teaching in middle and high school classrooms by this fall.

"We are looking for professionals to move from the top of their fields to the head of the classroom,'' Bredesen said in a statement shortly after the decision. ''I'm sure there are many people who have served well in their careers and now want to give something back to their community by teaching our children, bringing with them a wealth of real-world applications."

The program gives people who have a lot of education, training and experience in a field they'd like to teach an ability to enter the classroom quickly without going through a traditional teacher program upfront. They'll go through a lot of scrutiny and training before they start teaching, but they'll have a mentor and a customized plan for wrapping up any necessary college courses while they're working with kids.

Requirements for Teach Tennessee.

The details.

State education officials said the initiative wasn't meant to replace traditional teacher-preparation programs, which typically take four to five years, and was not designed to give would-be teachers a quicker route into elementary schools or easier-to-fill subject areas such as English or social studies. ''It's just meant to address some critical shortages we have with qualified people,'' said State Education Commissioner Lana Seivers. ''We know that the best teachers are the ones who have strong content knowledge.''

Tommy Lyons, an environmental safety engineer with 23 years of experience, is just one of the more than 500 people who have called the state Department of Education to inquire about the new program.

A longtime Boy Scout leader and the husband of a public school educator, Lyons was laid off in February when the plant where he worked for more than two decades moved out of the area. Lyons, who has racked up more than 50 college hours of science, says the idea of spending the last of his career teaching kids is appealing.

''I can offer maturity and discipline. I know what the business world is looking for in people,'' said Lyons, 53. ''I can convert what they learn in the classroom over to what they need to know in the real world.''

Besides, he says, there's always a need for good teachers and he'd like to work for at least 12 or 13 more years.

''It's job stability,'' he said. ''I've been in the corporate rat race for a long time, and (teaching) appeals to me.''

State officials said that, unfortunately, not all the people who are calling sound as promising as Lyons. All eligible candidates must have a bachelor's degree, at least 24 college hours in the field they want to teach and five or more years of related experience and pass screening tests and a criminal background check.

''It's equally important for them to have a love of kids,'' said Becky Kent, executive assistant for research and development for the state Education Department. ''Just as important as getting these kids in the classroom is keeping them in the classroom. We're going to keep our eye on them for up to five years.''

The state Education Department will provide two weeks of training this summer and help each accepted candidate develop a customized plan for completing any other training needed to become a fully certified teacher in about three years. But candidates have to find a district that will take them on.

Systems that opt to participate will be responsible for providing additional help, mentors and oversight until the candidates have completed the program. They also will have the option of deciding if they will start the teachers at the bottom of their salary schedule or give them credit for part or all of their professional experience.

Principal Johnny Chandler said he had talked to people over the years who had a lot of professional experience and wanted to be teachers, but didn't want to go back to college and start over. He says the new program will be good for schools.

''We have a hard time getting math and science teachers,'' said Chandler, principal of Dickson Middle School. ''If they have expertise in a subject area and the ability to teach, it'd be great.''

More information

Want to know more about Teach Tennessee, a statewide program that helps mid-career professionals, retired educators and others become fully licensed middle and high school teachers? Check out www.state.tn.us/education/teachtn/index.

Why the rush?

Tennessee public schools have long struggled to find enough teachers in key areas such as math, science, special education and foreign languages.

The problem is expected to get worse because, according to a report released last year by the Southern Regional Education Board, Tennessee is going to need 14,000 teachers, including 4,000 in high schools alone, in the next three years.

Another way the Tennessee Department of Education tracks teacher shortages is by looking at how many teachers are hired, by subject, even though they may not have expertise, a full teaching certification or experience in a subject.

Here are top subject areas and the number of teacher permits and waivers for last year:

Math, 125

Science, 66

Foreign language, 62