2023-03-21 10:25:41
Being a teacher has always been the dream for Miami Dade College student Jennifer Madriz. And now, before she even finishes her bachelor’s degree, she has her own first-grade classroom at Kensington Park Elementary – thanks to a new program designed to quickly fill teacher vacancies.
Madriz is an inaugural member of MDC’s Teacher Candidate Residency Program, a partnership with Miami-Dade County Public Schools that is chipping away at critical teacher shortages across Miami.
“I was born and raised in Miami, and many of my teachers were MDC alumni,” said Madriz, who is wrapping up her Bachelor’s in Early Childhood Education this term. “MDC was clearly the best place for me to earn my degree. This is an amazing opportunity, and I am so honored to have been chosen to participate.”
Miami-Dade, the fourth-largest school district in the nation, needs more teachers. So does the entire state. The Florida Education Association estimates that about 100,000 students in the Sunshine State do not have a full-time teacher, and vacancies have doubled in the last two years.
“It is our obligation to put the best possible teachers into Miami-Dade schools,” said Madeline Pumariega, MDC president and alumna of Hialeah Senior High. “A well-trained teacher can change the world.”
34 Students Offered Jobs
Toward that goal, the College and school district have teamed up on the new residency program, which provides paid internships to MDC Education students, offering them valuable classroom experience and mentoring from seasoned teachers. Madriz’s mentor at Kensington Park, Katherine Rey, is also an MDC alumna, having graduated with honors in 2019. Madriz expects to follow in her footsteps and begin working for the district immediately after graduation.
Thirty-four MDC students, including Madriz, have been offered full-time employment with the school district starting after they graduate. Approximately 90% of the county’s teachers are MDC’s School of Education graduates.
Switching Careers, Becoming a Teacher
Another route to the classroom is MDC’s Educator Preparation Institute, which grants certification to people with bachelor’s degrees in a discipline other than education who want to join the profession.
“There is a great employment migration occurring right now, and people with degrees outside of education are interested in teaching,” said Dr. Carmen Concepción, an MDC alumna and new dean of MDC’s School of Education. “At MDC we have the resources to help them transition into a successful teaching career.”
The program focuses on the required competencies to teach in Florida public schools.
Added Concepción: “This is our community, and MDC is committed to preparing effective teachers who can ensure the success of all students in our community.”
– DJ
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