I went in for a meeting and the rest is history.

When I first graduated from college, I got an internship with Teach for America. That was great, because I wanted to do non-profit work. I was on site with the kids, and I started envying the teachers. They got to be with the kids, do fun stuff with the kids, and I was stuck behind a desk all day. I would be at my desk and see the teachers outside with the kids, and I thought, “Well gee, I’ve got the wrong job!” So while I was there, I started doing the research in terms of a certification program. I discovered Transition to Teaching about a week before I left.

I was looking through Craigslist, looking into alternative certification programs, like Region 4, HISD’s program. I saw this ad and it said: government grant, learn to teach in one year, can be done while still working. That was perfect for me. So I went in for a meeting and the rest is history.

• ~ Current TTT Candidate

I had thought about teaching the previous year and considered going through the alternative certification program...

I was working in Houston for a technology company, as their lead chemist. I was working with soybeans and corn, fortifying products. It was fun, but after a while things were looking a little difficult for the company, which was a start-up. I told myself that if the company didn’t make it that I would definitely go back to school. I had wanted to for a long time.

I had thought about teaching the previous year and considered going through the alternative certification program, but I knew some people who had been unhappy with their experience there. [After talking to the TTT program people], I felt reassured – I wasn’t just going to be thrown in there and left to drown! I thought that it would be a good fit for me – it is really important to me to be prepared before I try something.

• ~ Current TTT Candidate