Troops to Teachers Honors Four for Lifetime Achievement in Military and Civilian Life

The Troops to Teachers Hall of Fame was created to honor members of the educational and veterans support communities who have made significant contributions to assist veterans as they transition to the teaching profession.  2010 was the inaugural year for the award.  It is the intent of Troops to Teachers to induct professionals from the education and veterans communities into the Hall of Fame each year, as well as honor one Colorado Troops to Teacher Teacher of the 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.
This year's ceremony was held at the Colorado Department of Education with honored guests Dr. Jami Goetz: CDE Executive Director Professional Services & Licensure, Colonel (Ret.) Joe Morgan.

Hall of Fame Inductees for 2013:

General (Ret) John Barry (Superintendent Aurora Public Schools, USAF)
Mr. Glenn Jones (Jones International, Ltd., Jones International University, U.S. Navy)
 Colonel (Ret) Joey Strickland (Arizona, U.S. Army)

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.

Colorado Troops to Teachers Teacher of the Year for 2013:

Lt. Colonel (Ret) Thomas Chandler

                                            Biographies:

General (Ret.) John Barry (Superintendent Aurora Public Schools, USAF) Hall of Fame Inductee
General John Barry became superintendent of Aurora Public Schools in 2006. Barry served for more than 30 years as a combat veteran, fighter pilot and a commander in the U.S. Air Force, retiring as a “Two-Star” Major General. As executive director and board member of the 2003 Columbia Accident Investigation Team, Barry helped lead the independent inquiry of the tragic Columbia Space Shuttle accident.
Barry was an honor graduate from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1973 where he pursued a double major in Political Science and International Affairs. In 1980, he received his Master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Oklahoma. He was a White House Fellow in 1985-1986 and he attended Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government in 1993-1994. John Barry was recognized as one of the top ten “Tech Savvy Superintendents” in the Nation by eSchool News in 2008.  He was also recognized as the Business Person of the Year by the Aurora Chamber of Commerce in 2009 and the CIVITAN Aurora Citizen of the Year in 2010.  In 2011, he was selected as the Superintendent of the Year for Colorado.

Lt. Colonel (Ret.) Thomas Chandler (Highland HS, U.S. Marines) Colorado Troops to Teachers Teacher of the Year
Lt Colonel (Ret.) Chandler was commissioned in May 1991 following graduation from the United States Naval Academy.  Between 1995 and 1998, Chandler planned and led the first Marine Corps Combat Readiness Evaluation of an ANGLICO brigade platoon.  Chandler served as a Supporting Arms Liaison Team Officer during a company deployment to Norway for NATO exercise Arctic Warrior.  In October 1998, Chandler was reassigned to the staff of Commander, Amphibious Group One, headquartered on Naval Amphibious Base White Beach, Okinawa, where he served as the Supporting Arms Officer. In January 2003, now Major Chandler was mobilized to active duty and deployed with the 1st Marine Division for Operation Enduring Freedom, subsequently Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). In January, 2004, he was assigned as the Division Information Operations Coordinator, he deployed to Camp Blue Diamond, Ramadi, Iraq. In January 2006, Major Chandler joined the 24th Marines staff and was assigned to his current billet.  He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel on October 1, 2006.  Lt Col Chandler’s personal decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, four Navy-Marine Corps Commendation Medals, and the Combat Action Ribbon. Mr. Chandler is now proudly serving again as a teacher at Highland High School in Ault, Colorado, where he is in his sixth year of teaching.  He received his Masters of Education from Colorado State University in 2008 through the Teacher Education and Masters (TEAM) program.  This year, Mr. Chandler is a participant in the Better Lesson Master Teacher Program.

Mr. Glenn Jones (Jones International, Ltd., Jones International University, U.S. Navy) Hall of Fame Inductee
Glenn R. Jones, branches cable television, digital technology, Internet technology, e-commerce, software development, education, entertainment, mobile communications, radio networks, author and advertising sales. In 1961, Jones began his career in cable television which over time, pioneered Jones Intercable, Inc. Two decades later, he created new technology businesses in the fields of compression, digital encryption and satellite receivers. In 1993, he founded Jones International University. In 1999, JIU became the first fully online university to receive accreditation from a nationally recognized regional accrediting agency, the Higher Learning Commission, a member of the North Central Association.

Colonel (Ret.) Joey Strickland (Arizona, U.S. Army) Hall of Fame Inductee
Colonel (Ret.) Joey Strickland who is American Indian of Choctaw-Hispanic descent, was appointed to head the Arizona Department of Veterans’ Services in July 2008 after serving more than 10 years as the Deputy Secretary and Executive Director of the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs, responsible for overseeing five veterans’ nursing homes, one state veterans’ cemetery and the Department’s administrative and claims divisions.  He recently retired as Director of the Arizona Department of Veterans services after serving for 5 years. Strickland served as the Louisiana Director of Indian Affairs from 1996 to 2004, and the Governor’s Military Advisory Board. In May 1995, he was selected from 80 candidates to serve as Louisiana State Director of Troops to Teachers as a member of the Louisiana Governor’s personal staff.  Col. Strickland served as Director of the Louisiana State office of Troops to Teachers, and was able to convince the Louisiana Legislature to establish an alternative certification program. Selected by Mr.  John Gantz, Past National Troops to Teachers Director, in 1997, to accompany him to Europe to brief Commanders and Troops on the viability of the program. At the national level, Col. Strickland has served as chairman of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Advisory Committee for Minority Veterans and is a past president of the National Association of State Directors of Veterans Affairs. In 2007, Col. Strickland was presented with the “Iron Mike” award by NASDVA in Washington D.C., which is presented to men and women who have demonstrated great leadership in service to our nation’s veterans. In March of 2012, Col. Strickland, was appointed by VA Secretary Shinseki; to the National Committee for Homeless Veterans, where he still serves.  In May of 2012, Col. Strickland was one of eleven veterans nationwide selected by the White House as a, “Champion of Change”, for his work with the veterans community.