Troops to Teachers Annual Awards 2012

TROOPS TO TEACHERS HALL OF FAME AWARDS AND CEREMONY

2012 Colorado Troops to Teacher of the Year: James Newell, CO

2012 Troops to Teachers Hall of Fame Inductee: Dr. John Gantz, FL

2012 Scholarship Winner: Michael Kloenne, CO

           

 The Troops to Teachers Hall of Fame was created to honor members of the educational community who have made significant contributions to assist veterans as they transition to the teaching profession.  It is the intent of Troops to Teachers to induct one professional from the education community into the Hall of Fame each year.  Nominations for the award are accepted from Troops to Teachers State and Regional Directors.  Nominees are considered based on the level of support exhibited through their professional activities for military members who enter the teaching profession. For this year, Dr. John Gantz, former Chief of Troops to Teachers, will be inducted into the Troops to Teachers Hall of Fame for his dynamic leadership of the organization through tough financial conditions.

The Colorado Troops to Teachers Teacher of the Year will be awarded to James Newell. The Mountain Pacific Troops to Teachers program began the Troops to Teachers Teacher of the Year Award in 2003 to recognize outstanding Troops to Teachers participants who have made significant contributions to their communities as public school teachers. To be eligible to receive the award individuals must be a registered Troops to Teachers participant currently teaching in a K-12 public school. Newell has taught for 14 years at Prairie Middle School in Aurora, Colorado and has made significant contributions to his students through his extracurricular activities.

USAF Lt Col (ret.) Michael Kloenne, is the recent winner of the Armed Forces Communication Electronics Association’s (AFCEA) $5,000 scholarship for new teachers who teach a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) subject.  Supported by the Mountain Pacific Troops to Teachers program, www.mpttt.org . 

Troops to Teachers Gets their Own Day

Troops to Teachers has been given their own day, June 2^nd, by the Colorado Springs City Council.

Whereas,         June 2 is now to be recognized as “Troops to Teachers Day” and is an observance throughout the city of Colorado Springs to promote recognition of United State military veterans transitioning to become public school teachers; and

Whereas,         the Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce Military Affairs Division will coordinate, cooperate, and work with the Troops to Teachers program to encourage local school districts to employ qualified military veterans as role models and teachers; and

Whereas,         the City of Colorado Springs encourages cooperation between public and private universities to recruit and train military members through their teacher education programs; and

Whereas,         we recognize the efforts of currently employed former military members teachin in schools and public schools throughout the city of Colorado Springs; and

Whereas,         we applaud District 11 and Wasson High School for their volunteerism and gracious cooperation to sponsor a community wide golf tournament fundraiser on June 2, 2012; and

Whereas,         our citizens recognize the efforts of the Mountain Pacific Troops to Teachers program employees, who provide their best efforts toward recruiting, advisement and counseling of military members for teacher education opportunities and employment assistance.

Now, therefore, I Scott Hente, President of the Colorado Springs City Council,

do hereby proclaim June 2, 2012 as Troops to Teachers Day