Changing Aging and Back to the Classroom

Could you see yourself doing a completely different job when you retire than the one you’re currently doing? Many boomers in our Age Wave study said they’ll be doing something very different when they hit their ‘third age.’In Maryland and California, they’re connecting the generations by bringing seniors and baby boomers back to the classroom as paid teachers or volunteers. You can read more at this stateline.org story.According to stateline.org, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger this summer launched a statewide program that partners with high-tech companies to recruit, train and place retiring employees in the state’s public schools. Virginia and other states use federal money to train retirees for volunteer work in classrooms and with students who need extra help. A similar program in Maryland has has improved teacher retention, raised student scores and boosted the overall health of the senior volunteers.Nationwide, public schools are expected to lose about a million teachers over the next decade, according to the National Commission on Teaching and America’s Future. What an opportunity to tap new sources of expertise in new ways.