President Bush introduced the 2002 teacher of the year-a retired Army colonel from southern California-at a Rose Garden ceremony yesterday. Chancey Veatch, a social studies teacher at Coachella Valley High School in Thermal, California, said he believes that struggling teachers can improve by looking to colleagues for help; "I'm a really strong advocate that you don't have to wait until somebody trains you." After retiring from the Army in 1995, Veatch, who had no teaching experience, called up the local school district a few days before the beginning of the school year, looking for a substitute teaching job. He was offered his own classroom, teaching eighth-grade science and math. Veatch said he looked to his brother and sister, both teachers, for guidance. He spent the next three years taking classes at night, on weekends, and in the summer to receive certification. President Bush has championed the Troops to Teachers program, which matches retired military personnel with public schools. For more see "The new teacher of the year, a retired Army colonel from southern California..." by Greg Toppo, AP Wire, April 23, 2002. More information is available at http://www.ccsso.org/ntoy/2002/ntoy02.html.
