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Learn about Other Career Switchers' Successes:
Fast job retraining- WWBT Channel 12 - 9.16.09
Retired Lt. Col. USAF Receives Greatest Salute as a High School Teacher
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Teacher from the Democratic Republic of Congo Learns English to Teach French
Gretchen Riley is an English for Speakers of Other Languages or ESOL teacher at Baldwin. Ms. Riley’s nominator raved about her ability to plan meaningful and coherent instruction for her students. She has created her own curriculum plan that is dynamic and innovative. Because of her expertise and innovation, the administration has chosen her to pilot a self-contained BASIC first grade program for next year. What a compliment to a new teacher! Ms. Riley’s road to the classroom is a bit different than others’.
After college and graduate school, she entered the business world only to find herself daydreaming of becoming a teacher. She made the decision to go for it by participating in the Career Switcher Program offered through the Virginia Community College System.
Ms. Riley says it’s hard to put into words what she has learned during her first year of teaching. She has found that she and her students are a reflection of each other. One of the most important things she has learned is how much of an influence a teacher can be on a student.
It calls her to excellence to know that they are watching her and learning from her example and it forced her to push for 100% at all times. After all, she says, if you don’t strive for 100%, you will not achieve it. This award proves she is giving it her all!
A Career Switcher program
offered by the
Community College Workforce Alliance
in cooperation with
Virginia's Community Colleges
Gretchen Riley (second from right) was named first year teacher of the year at Baldwin Elementary School in the City of Manassas.
Jerial Fletcher, left, regional advisor for the Southwest portion of the state, is shown with Kira Young and Kay Schwink, two career switchers.
The VCCS Career Switcher Program was featured in Community College Week.
Career Switchers are highlighted on VaHigherEd.com, the higher ed podcast produced by Virginia's Community Colleges. Wylie Schwieder and Mead Craun discuss their experiences in this two-part series.
Episode 9 - Career Switcher rewards
Episode 10 - Becoming a teacher
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Stay up to date on all community college news by subscribing to the blog at VaHigherEd.com.
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