CTQ is working closely with the IBM Transition to Teaching (T2T) program, a unique venture to bring skilled mid-career private sector employees into the teaching profession. The program is designed to address “the critical shortage of math and science teachers by leveraging the brains and backgrounds of some of IBM's most experienced employees enabling them to become fully accredited teachers in their local communities upon electing to leave the company.” 

The program, initially launched in North Carolina and New York, has now been implemented in several other states including Texas, Georgia and California. IBM encourages its T2T participants to enroll in high-quality preparation programs that offer features such as online and university-based course work, online mentoring, and student teaching so that the transitioning IBM employees can meet state teacher licensure standards. IBM supports the T2T participants with stipends, the support of local advisors, flexible time to accommodate student teaching, and a T2T website that offers an online virtual community for mentoring support.

CTQ has conducted interviews and surveys of T2T participants to collect and analyze data about the backgrounds and experiences of those employees who have entered the program, to inform IBM of the quality of participants’ experiences with the T2T and teacher preparation programs, to assess their needs, and solicit recommendations for program improvements. In addition, CTQ has provided recommendations and facilitation for the virtual mentoring component of IBM’s T2T website.

As one result of this work, CTQ will be surfacing new evidence about the teaching knowledge that talented career-switchers should possess before they become independent “teachers of record.”