Previous Story
Former soldier looking to recruit teacher aides
|
Posted on Jul 25 2008
Fred Camacho was deployed for two years in Iraq. During that time he saw death and destruction. But it didn’t prepare him for a classroom full of 9 and 10 year olds.
“It’s funny, you go to war, but find it more intimidating to be in a classroom with fourth graders,” he said. “Teaching is probably the hardest profession out there.”
Camacho was part of the 2006 inaugural class of the Troops-to-Teachers Program, which places returning and currently-enlisted soldiers in local Public School System classrooms as they earn their college degree.
Camacho believes in the program so much he is now the Program Assistant.
“The time was rewarding,” he said. “[The students] really look up to you, especially if you tell them you are in the military.”
When the program started, Camacho said, there were four soldiers. At one point there were more than 40 participants, but because of funding the program had to be capped.
“It has grown exponentially,” he added.
There are about 30 participants so far for the upcoming school year. The number has decreased in part because of 11 soldiers recently deployed. Troops-to-Teachers are going to be recruiting soldiers in a few weeks, he added.
Soldiers are placed primarily in elementary schools, although a few are placed in the high schools, Camacho said.
“It’s spread out throughout PSS,” he said. “We try to target schools with higher populations.”
The program originally began in 1994 to assist military personnel in the transition to teaching. Public School System Education Specialist Geri Willis began the CNMI program in April 2006. [B][I](Kristi Eaton)[/I][/B]
