A federal program that helps soldiers to become teachers when they leave the military is expanding into Iowa. Chad Schatz, the director of "Troops to Teachers," says the program provides money for soldiers to work toward teacher certification when they come out of the military, or help them get a provisional certification to work toward getting into the classroom.

Soldiers could be eligible for the GI bill to fund their schooling and Schatz says that won’t keep them from getting the Troops to Teacher money. Schatz says Congress allows them to draw both the GI bill and the Troops to Teacher money at the same time, and he says that’s a big financial incentive to get the soldiers into the classroom. Schatz says the soldiers make good teachers.

He says individuals in the military are exposed to instruction and become instructors too, and develop a love for teaching. The program allows them to use that love of teaching in the public schools. Schatz has worked with the program for years in Missouri, and says the schools have been pleased with the soldiers who’ve become teachers.

Schatz says the soldiers make excellent role models, and many are wining teacher awards. He says public schools prize the soldiers turned teachers because they bring in lots of worldly experience. For more information on the "Troops to Teachers" program, you can call 1-877-530-2765. Iowa veterans representatives will also have more information for interested soldiers. You can also surf to: www.proudtoserveagain.com .