I think that TO is the way ahead for someone with a teaching degree. You could make a huge difference to a station if you are the proactive type. And sadly gone are the days when you were just left to get on with learning whatever new idea or piece of equipment they had just introduced. Good news for the TO world though.
I would imagine (though not in basic recruitment so dont quote me) that it would look better if you went in with the commitment towards a realistic trade and pleaded your case that you have turned over a new leaf.
So you wont be dishing out blankets, but devising a training syllabus for those that do! Good luck