Addressing the Teacher Shortage in Rural Areas with Military Veteran Teacher Candidates
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| Title: | Addressing the Teacher Shortage in Rural Areas with Military Veteran Teacher Candidates |
|---|---|
| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Glenna M. Billingsley (ORCID |
| Source: | Rural Special Education Quarterly. 2026 45(1):50-58. |
| Availability: | SAGE Publications and Hammill Institute on Disabilities. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com |
| Peer Reviewed: | Y |
| Page Count: | 9 |
| Publication Date: | 2026 |
| Document Type: | Journal Articles Opinion Papers |
| Education Level: | Adult Education |
| Descriptors: | Teacher Shortage, Rural Areas, Veterans, Special Education Teachers, Alternative Teacher Certification, Student Financial Aid, Veterans Education, Federal Legislation, Teacher Characteristics, Individual Characteristics, Interpersonal Competence |
| Geographic Terms: | Texas |
| Laws, Policies and Program Identifiers: | G I Bill |
| DOI: | 10.1177/87568705251342507 |
| ISSN: | 8756-8705 2168-8605 |
| Abstract: | The United States is experiencing a drastic teacher shortage nationwide, in rural locations and in specialized areas like special education, science, and math. Rural special education teacher positions often go unfulfilled or are staffed with untrained, and often unqualified, individuals with little to no experience in education, leaving the most vulnerable students in a precarious educational placement. This position paper identifies one solution to address the special education teacher shortage in rural areas: recruit military veterans into special education teacher preparation programs. Characteristics of military veterans that make them ideal special education teacher candidates are identified, and a pathway is proposed for those interested in transferring the skills and dispositions attained during military service to the special education classroom. |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| Entry Date: | 2026 |
| Accession Number: | EJ1500803 |
| Database: | ERIC |
| Abstract: | The United States is experiencing a drastic teacher shortage nationwide, in rural locations and in specialized areas like special education, science, and math. Rural special education teacher positions often go unfulfilled or are staffed with untrained, and often unqualified, individuals with little to no experience in education, leaving the most vulnerable students in a precarious educational placement. This position paper identifies one solution to address the special education teacher shortage in rural areas: recruit military veterans into special education teacher preparation programs. Characteristics of military veterans that make them ideal special education teacher candidates are identified, and a pathway is proposed for those interested in transferring the skills and dispositions attained during military service to the special education classroom. |
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| ISSN: | 8756-8705 2168-8605 |
| DOI: | 10.1177/87568705251342507 |
