A Second Tour of Duty — in our Nation’s Classrooms
From dogged perseverance and attention to detail to the ability to bring history to life with a richness far beyond what a textbook can provide, combat veterans across the country are translating the skills they developed in the military to an entirely new venue. They’re doing a second tour of service here at home: teaching in our nation’s schools.
We’ve been chatting with vets who are now public charter school teachers in Kansas City, Houston, San Antonio, Memphis, San Diego, Wilmington, and D.C. — and that’s just scratching the surface. Programs like Teach for America and Success Academy’s veteran hiring initiatives actively recruit former service members into the teaching profession.
Since launching their Military Veterans Outreach and Support Initiative last March, 40 veterans have joined Success Academy’s staff. And the charter school network which serves 15,000+ students in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx has set a goal of 60 more veteran hires by the start of the 2018–2019 school year, explained former Navy Seal Brett Chappell — who heads the program.
Sonoran Science Academy Davis-Monthan in Arizona — the first public charter high school established on a military base — provides a STEM-focused education catered especially to military families. Tailored to the unique stressors these students face, the school has hired multiple veterans and spouses of veterans, as they not only possess a sensitivity and mutual understanding that’s hard to find anywhere else; but they also provide important perspective for a generation who hasn’t lived through war like generations of the past.
Below are some of the stories veterans shared with us about their transition to a different form of service:
Darren Rainey
“Teaching can be very, very stressful. But I’ve seen hard before.”
With a deployment to Afghanistan and an operational rotation to the Republic of Korea, Darren Rainey served in the Army for five years as an Armor Officer in the 4th Squadron, 9th U.S. Cavalry Regiment. At one point, he was responsible for planning the day-to-day operations for a unit of 450 soldiers. When thinking about what to do next after leaving the military, he knew he wanted to continue work that was meaningful and thought back to the people who had the most impact on his life: his teachers.
You’ll now find him at Freire Charter School in Wilmington, Delaware, teaching 8th graders about civil disobedience and their role in racial and gender equality. He devotes five minutes every Friday during his social justice class to “Real Talk”: an opportunity for his students to ask him anything they want; and his military experience always comes up.
Rainey spoke of their recent conversation on the NFL’s #takeaknee protests, how service members take an oath to protect the Constitution — not a president, not a general, that serving isn’t just about patriotism. The time is often a chance to challenge common assumptions. Confronted by adults so often with the question, “Oh, you were in the army? You’re not crazy?”, Rainey stressed how important he believes it is for his students to see that veterans can have great careers and a life after the military.
Reggie Orr
“When you’re surrounded by people willing to give their life for their country, it gives you perspective.”
Reggie Orr spent 20 years serving in the Air Force, with deployments to Italy, Turkey, the UAE, and Afghanistan. He considered becoming a teacher back in high school, so when introduced to Teach for America after retiring from the Air Force, he jumped at the opportunity for what he considers a second tour of service. Now a middle school history teacher at IDEA Public Schools in San Antonio, Texas, he believes the diversity of tasks, structure and organization, and the fair and consistent leadership of the military give him a leg up in the classroom.
“It’s mentally exhausting but worth it to see a student start 6th grade at a 2nd grade reading level and finish the year above their grade level,” said Orr, who added that seeing how a student’s confidence grows and overflows into every part of their life is what’s most rewarding. He spoke of how he’s not just a teacher — that he’s a counselor at times, a big brother at others. He enjoys the dynamic relationships he builds with his students.
Erica Jagdeo
“I know I wasn’t your favorite, but you inspired me.”
Erica Jagdeo received that note from a former student, who had just enrolled in the Air Force. Such cards of thanks are not uncommon for the American history teacher at Sonoran Science Academy Tucson in Arizona. Jagdeo served as a Staff Sergeant in the Air Force, completing a tour in Italy as a Disaster Preparedness Technician. And she doesn’t shy away from bringing her experience into the classroom.
She’s come to school dressed in full uniform, which she says always shocks her students — as they’re used to seeing only male officers. She often invites fellow former service members to speak to her classes, especially for holidays like Veterans Day. Seeing many of her students pursue their own careers in the military and come back to visit her, Jagdeo values the impact she has been able to make through her role as a teacher.
