Military pilot soars toward career in teaching via Mercyhurst
began the program in Fall 2020 and several more started during the spring semester when the university enacted a special tuition rate for all TTT participants. They are charged $515 per credit, rather than the standard $830 per credit, a savings of 38 percent, reported Travis Lindahl, director of Graduate and Professional Admissions at Mercyhurst. The Mercyhurst program, he continued, is a one-year Master of Science in Secondary Education degree leading to Pennsylvania Department of Education certifcation in either math, physics, general science, earth science, biology, chemistry, English, or social studies. The Mercyhurst program is fully online, and the university considers an applicant’s entire career in ofering life experience credit, which reduces the timeline to program completion and afords a higher degree of fexibility to balance work and family life. And that’s what piqued the interest of Whiteford, an Allentown resident who is juggling many responsibilities, including a commercial aviation career, his obligation as a pilot with the military reserves, and his family, including his wife and three children, ages 2, 4, and 6. For Whiteford, a career in education is a long time coming. Since his youth, he considered teaching a natural calling, following in the footsteps of his father, who taught high school for 40 years.
As a fight instructor, U.S. Marine Corps pilot with two tours in Afghanistan, and frst ofcer for American Airlines, Michael Whiteford doesn’t stray far from the cockpit these days. But that could change once he earns his master’s degree in Secondary Education from Mercyhurst University, where he is the frst student to participate in the Troops to Teachers (TTT) program at the university. Mercyhurst is one of only three universities in Pennsylvania approved as host schools for Troops to Teachers, which was established in 1993 to assist transitioning service members and veterans in beginning new careers as K-12 teachers in public, charter, and Bureau of Indian Afairs schools. Mercyhurst is also designated as a Purple Heart University, one of only two in Pennsylvania, for its level of services for veterans. “These men and women put their lives at risk on our behalf while serving our country, and we owe them an enormous debt of gratitude,” said former Mercyhurst President Michael T. Victor. “Mercyhurst is eager to do its part in ensuring their successful integration into life beyond the military.” “With a nationwide teacher shortage looming and thousands of veterans looking for job opportunities, this initiative could not have come at a better time,” said Mercyhurst TTT Coordinator and Chair of Graduate Secondary Education Dr. Amy Burniston, who reported that six students
Michael Whiteford (L) & Connor Baughman (R)
But then, 9/11 happened. It was his junior year in college. He was pursuing a degree in social studies education and had already done his student teaching. But, after 9/11, he chose to serve, and joined the U.S. Marine Corps. He had only planned to serve a brief time, but 13 years quickly came and went. It was then that his career as a pilot began and, once retired from active duty, it seemed a natural path to resume, so he pursued commercial aviation. Still, he had that hankering to teach and, upon discovering Troops for Teachers, knew that it was an opportunity he had to seize. Erie native Connor Baughman, who is presently holding a full-time substitute position at Meadville Area Senior High School, began his master’s degree in Secondary Education at Mercyhurst in 2017, but was commissioned by the Marine Corps before fnishing. After two-and-a- half years of active duty and currently a reservist, Baughman said the transition from military life back to his educational path has been “seamless.” He said the TTT program afords him not only the fexibility to balance his many duties – teaching, serving in the reserves, and taking classes – but it provides a high level of support.
For more information, contact Amy Burniston at aburniston@mercyhurst.edu or tttpennsylvania@j2tinfo.com .
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