Sixth Teach Tennessee Class Commences Training
Nashville, TN – Military veterans, chiropractors, researchers and more
are making a career switch to teaching through the Teach Tennessee program
which trains its sixth class this summer. Teach Tennessee is a highly
selective alternative licensure program devised by Governor Phil Bredesen that
targets experienced professionals who have a strong desire to teach. Twenty-seven ‘Fellows’ from
18 Tennessee counties and North Carolina begin training June 9 to earn certification
to teach in the fall.
“Teach Tennessee is designed to attract people with
expertise in a subject such as math or science who would like to pass that
knowledge on through teaching,” Governor Bredesen said. “It is
one way to provide the highly-knowledgeable teachers necessary to prepare Tennessee
students to be top achievers.”
“Governor Bredesen recognized a valuable, untapped resource for Tennessee
schools – successful, experienced professionals with a desire to teach,” Acting
Commissioner Tim Webb said. “Teach Tennessee expands the teacher
candidate pool with well-qualified individuals at a time when the nation is
facing a critical teacher shortage.”
The sixth Teach Tennessee class represents the following counties:
-
County
Number of Fellows
Blount
1
Cheatham
1
Davidson
5
Giles
1
Hamblen
2
Hancock
1
Knox
1
Marshall
1
Maury
1
Monroe
1
Polk
1
Putnam
2
Rutherford
3
Scott
1
Shelby
1
Union
1
Warren
1
North Carolina
1
Teach Tennessee gives priority to teacher candidates with the expertise
to teach math, science or a foreign language. To date, 90 percent of the endorsements
earned by Teach Tennessee Fellows are in math or science, two subject
areas hardest hit by a shortage of teacher candidates.
“The Teach Tennessee Fellows we have trained are of high caliber
in their subject knowledge, but I am struck also by their enthusiasm for helping
students achieve,” Teach Tennessee Executive Director Becky
Kent said. “These folks genuinely want to make a difference and commit
the hours and energy to make it happen.”
To learn about the Teach Tennessee program, visit http://state.tn.us/education/teachtn/.
For more information, contact Rachel Woods at (615) 253-1960 or Rachel.Woods@state.tn.us.
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