Teach Tennessee Increases Math, Science Teachers in Classroom

NASHVILLE -- An engineer, banker and veterinarian are just a few among the many making a career change this summer to become a teacher through the Teach Tennessee program, which trains its seventh class this summer. Teach Tennessee is a statewide transitional licensure program devised by Governor Phil Bredesen that addresses the need for teachers in the classroom by challenging mid-career professionals, retirees and others to teach.

Thirty-six “fellows” from 20 Tennessee counties will begin their training June 8 to earn certification to teach this fall.

“Teach Tennessee meets the needs of our schools by getting well trained professionals into the classroom quickly and providing our students with resources in the most needed areas like math and science,” Gov. Bredesen said.

“As we implement the Tennessee Diploma Project this fall, and increase math and science graduation requirements, it will be imperative that we get more math and science teachers into the classroom,” Education Commissioner Dr. Timothy Webb said. “Teach Tennessee is a program that helps us do just that.”

For more information on Teach Tennessee, visit www.tn.gov/education/teachtn/index.shtml.

For more information on the Tennessee Diploma Project, visit www.tn.gov/TDP/.

The seventh Teach Tennessee class represents the following counties:

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