Veterans become teachers, help with shortage of educators nationwide

School districts across the country are hiring military veterans as teachers. This comes as school districts nationwide face teaching shortages. Eighty-six percent of public schools reported challenges in hiring teachers this past school year, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. 

Each state sets its own requirements for military veterans to qualify to become teachers. 
In most states, these individuals need to have a bachelor's degree and pass a background check. 
Veterans who have become teachers said they encourage others to do the same. 

Ryan Pavel said he served in the Marine Corps for five years.

"When I got out, I had a notion I wanted to be a teacher, but I didn’t know exactly what that would look like," Pavel said.