Devotion to Duty: The Preservice Teaching Experiences of a Former Coast Guardsman

Maria A. Walls; Katherine J. Burke; Elvis Wagner; Michael Smith; Tim Fukawa-Connelly; Casey Crass; Sue Kelley

doi:10.21061/jvs.v11i2.698

Devotion to Duty: The Preservice Teaching Experiences of a Former Coast Guardsman

Volume 11 (2025): Issue 2

By: Maria A. Walls , Katherine J. Burke , Elvis Wagner , Michael Smith , Tim Fukawa-Connelly , Casey Crass and Sue Kelley

Open Access

|Jul 2025

Abstract

The federal government program, Troops to Teachers, supports veterans in transitioning into the teaching profession. Research has consistently documented the efficacy of this program, but has yet to provide an explanation of its relative effectiveness. Using data collected for a study on preservice teachers’ evolving principles and classroom practices, we present a case study of a former Troops to Teachers participant to explore the nature of the program’s effectiveness. We argue that his military experience as a former Coast Guardsman acculturated him to forms of reflection and flexibility that contributed to his success in the classroom.

References

Alger, C. (2006). ‘What went well, what didn’t go so well’: Growth of reflection in pre-service teachers. Reflective Practice, 7(3), 287–301. 10.1080/14623940600837327
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Atkinson, B. M. (2012). Rethinking reflection: Teachers’ critiques. The Teacher Educator, 47(3), 175–194. 10.1080/08878730.2012.685796
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Bank, D. (2007). Troops to Teachers: A Model Pathway to a Second Tour of Duty. Civic Ventures. https://cogenerate.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/TroopstoTeachers.pdf
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77–101. 10.1191/1478088706qp063oa
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Burke, K. J., Walls, M. A., Fukawa-Connelly, T., Smith, M. W., Crass, C., Kelley, S., & Wagner, E. (2025). Pillars of their practice: An analysis of preservice teachers’ beliefs, where they come from, and how they develop. Frontiers in Education, 10, 1529340. 10.3389/feduc.2025.1529340
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Calderhead, J. (1996). Teachers: Beliefs and knowledge. In D. C. Berliner & R. C. Calfee (Eds.), Handbook of educational psychology (pp. 709–725). New York, NY: Macmillan.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Cavanagh, M., & McMaster, H. (2015). A professional experience learning community for secondary mathematics: developing pre-service teachers’ reflective practice. Mathematics Education Research Journal, 27(4), 471–490. 10.1007/s13394-015-0145-z
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Cavanagh, M., & Prescott, A. (2010). The growth of reflective practice among three beginning secondary mathematics teachers. Asia-Pacific Journal of Teacher Education, 38(2), 147–159. 10.1080/13598661003678968
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Dewey, J. (1933). How we think: A restatement of the relation of reflective thinking to the educative process. D.C. Heath.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Dewey, J. (1941). Propositions, warranted assertibility, and truth. The Journal of Philosophy, 38(7), 169–186. 10.2307/2017978
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Franke, M. L., Fennema, E., & Carpenter, T. (1997). Teachers creating change: Examining evolving beliefs and classroom practice. In: E. Fennema & B. S. Nelson (Eds.), Mathematics Teachers in Transition (pp. 255–82). Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Goddard, Y. L., Goddard, R. D., & Tschannen-Moran, M. (2007). A theoretical and empirical investigation of teacher collaboration for school improvement and student achievement in public elementary schools. Teachers College Record, 109(4), 877–896. 10.1177/016146810710900401
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Hall, P. A., & Taylor, R. C. (1996). Political science and the three new institutionalisms. Political Studies, 44(5), 936–957. 10.1111/j.1467-9248.1996.tb00343.x
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Hora, M. T. (2012). Organizational factors and instructional decision-making: A cognitive perspective. The Review of Higher Education, 35(2), 207–235. 10.1353/rhe.2012.0001
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Ingram, P., & Clay, K. (2000). The choice-within-constraints new institutionalism and implications for sociology. Annual Review of Sociology, 26(1), 525–546. 10.1146/annurev.soc.26.1.525
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Leatham, K. R. (2006). Viewing mathematics teachers’ beliefs as sensible systems. Journal of Mathematics Teacher Education, 9(1), 91–102. 10.1007/s10857-006-9006-8
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Loughran, J. (2002). Effective reflective practice: In search of meaning in learning about teaching. Journal of Teacher Education, 53(1), 33–43. 10.1177/0022487102053001004
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Loughran, J. (2007). Researching teacher education practices: Responding to the challenges, demands, and expectations of self-study. Journal of Teacher Education, 58(1), 12–20. 10.1177/0022487106296217
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Mastin, T. T. (2011, February 11). Training; it’s our duty. Hill Air Force Base. https://www.hill.af.mil/News/Commentaries/Display/Article/398588/training-its-our-duty/
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Miles, M. B., Huberman, A. M., & Saldana, J. (2013). Qualitative Data Analysis: A Methods Sourcebook. SAGE Publications, Thousand Oaks.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Milner, H. R. (2006). Preservice teachers’ learning about cultural and racial diversity: Implications for urban education. Urban Education, 41(4), 343–375. 10.1177/0042085906289709
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Muir, T., & Beswick, K. (2007). Stimulating Reflection on Practice: Using the Supportive Classroom Reflection Process. Mathematics Teacher Education and Development, 8, 74–93. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ836495.pdf
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Nunnery, J., Kaplan, L., Owings, W. A., & Pribesh, S. (2009). The effects of Troops to Teachers on student achievement: One state’s study. NASSP Bulletin, 93(4), 249–272. 10.1177/0192636509359338
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Otienoh, R. O. (2011). Teachers’ lack of deeper analytical reflections: Who is to blame? Reflective Practice, 12(6), 733–747. 10.1080/14623943.2011.601091
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Owings, W. A., Kaplan, L. S., Nunnery, J., Marzano, R., Myran, S., & Blackburn, D. (2006). Teacher quality and Troops to Teachers: A national study with implications for principals. NASSP Bulletin, 90(2), 102–131. 10.1177/0192636506289023
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Parham, J. N., & Gordon, S. P. (2016). Military veterans bring many positives—and some needs—into teaching. Phi Delta Kappan, 97(7), 43–47. 10.1177/0031721716641648
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Pennsylvania Department of Education. (n.d.). Frameworks for Educator Effectiveness. https://www.pdesas.org/EducatorFrameworks/EducatorEffectiveness/
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Richards, J. C., & Lockhart, C. (1994). Reflective teaching in second language classrooms. Cambridge University Press. 10.1017/CBO9780511667169
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Shaul, M. S. (2001). Troops to teachers: Program helped address teacher shortages. United States General Accounting Office. https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/trecms/pdf/AD1179250.pdf
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Tomlinson, C. A., & McTighe, J. (2006). Integrating differentiated instruction & understanding by design: Connecting content and kids. Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
U.S. Department of Homeland Security: United States Coast Guard. (n.d.). U.S. Coast Guard History. https://www.history.uscg.mil/home/history-program/
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
U.S. Department of Homeland Security: United States Coast Guard Auxiliary. (n.d.). U. S. Coast Guard Core Values. https://wow.uscgaux.info/content.php?unit=014-10-20&category=custom-1
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Wallace, M. J. (1991). Training foreign language teachers: A reflective approach. Cambridge University Press.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Zhu, X. (2011). Student teachers’ reflection during practicum: Plenty on action, few in action. Reflective Practice, 12(6), 763–775. 10.1080/14623943.2011.601097
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article