4.11.2008 - 03:34pm ET

(CSRwire) SAN FRANCISCO, CA – April 11, 2008 - Several large California employers including IBM, Northrop Grumman and Edison International announced their partnership with the newly launched EnCorps teacher program to transition their retirees into positions as California math and science teachers. The program was initially unveiled in 2007 by Governor Schwarzenegger to address the critical shortage of math and science teachers in California public schools. The program comes at a time when nearly 33,000 new math and science teachers will be needed to teach the next generation, and 11 million Baby Boomers are projected to retire in California over the next ten years.

"EnCorps is tapping into a completely new audience of passionate, qualified teacher candidates – retiring baby boomers," says EnCorps CEO, Jennifer Anastasoff. "As these retirees from the science, math and engineering professions are looking for second careers, kids around the state are still waiting for qualified math and science teachers."
Inspired by IBM's Transition to Teaching program and founded by former Paramount Pictures CEO, Sherry Lansing, EnCorps recruits retired and nearly-retired professionals from finance, engineering and science fields to trade their desks for chalkboards. The program provides training, university coursework and support for new teachers gaining their teaching credentials. In describing the program, Anastasoff draws a comparison to the Peace Corps, recently telling an audience of aerospace engineers "that teaching will be the toughest job you'll ever love."

A 2004 Harvard School of Public Health/Met Life Foundation survey, Reinventing Aging: Baby Boomers and Civic Engagement, found that 55% of Boomers who want to work after retirement want to move into education. EnCorps is accepting applications through their April 18th and May 9 deadlines. Successful candidates will begin the EnCorps program in June 2008 and start teaching in the classroom this coming September. For more information, please visit www.encorpsteachers.org.

About EnCorps

The EnCorps Teachers Program is an innovative public-private partnership dedicated to increasing the number of much-needed math and science teachers in California's public middle and high schools. We recruit retiring math and science professionals through their California employer, then select, match, train and support teachers through their first year. With corporate brands, EnCorps is helping Baby Boomers and retirees around California to transition into teaching. EnCorps is located in San Francisco, California. EnCorps can be found at www.encorpsteachers.org.

More information about EnCorps’ Corporate Partners can be found at:
http://www2.encorpsteachers.org/index.cfm/page/corporation

For more information please contact:

Commitment to Transparency: This organization is committed to transparency and stakeholder dialogue and encourages your comments and feedback.

Post a comment below: Kitty Ichelson    2008-04-23 00:26:01 I was unable to get to the April training, couldn't be in two places at once! Please let me know when this opportunity presents itself again! I am really, really interested and motivated!!! I also have the brains to get through it. Thank you! *Your Comment: *Name: *E-mail (will not be displayed):   Notify me when others add comments to this discussion. Verification String (Six characters shown at left)