By Pete Scherer

American schools suffer from a lack of personnel, with over 300,000 positions left unfilled. For the current school year (2024-2025), it is estimated that there are approximately 49,000 vacant teaching positions. In addition to the teacher shortage, schools are hindered by a severe lack of bus drivers and security guards.

The Patriots to Education program seeks to address the crisis with the help of the military transition community and their spouses. According to Dr. George Ann Rice, a planning team member of the program, many service members struggle to find work in the civilian workforce after leaving the military. PTE seeks to kill two birds with one stone by offering these men and women a pathway into the field of education. Many have acquired certain skills and traits during their time of service that underserved school districts are desperately seeking.

The PTE program assists the military transition community by identifying available opportunities in public education. Meanwhile, it works with school districts to place these candidates where they can be of most effective use.  Finally, it offers follow-up assistance that includes mentoring, skill development, and leadership training to assist the transition process.

PTE has established support in California, Florida, Nebraska, and Nevada, and seeks to expand the program to other states, with plans to expand to Texas. Veterans who live outside these states are still encouraged to contact the program’s national office.