The partnership between Miami Dade College and Miami Dade Public Schools to promote teaching careers has already paid off with the first batch of recently graduated education students with classroom experience.
Under this program, Miami Dade College education students have the opportunity to complete graduation requirements while receiving a salary and necessary classroom experience.
Teacher Jennifer Madriz says she has fulfilled a dream. She graduated last week from Miami Dade College and was one of the student teachers who took part in a program born out of a teacher shortage.
“To be honest, it’s been a blessing, it’s given me a real chance to see what this career that I’ve been studying all this time looks like,” Madriz says.
Of the 34 recently graduated education students, 10 participated in a pilot program between Miami Dade College and Miami Dade Public Schools.
Dr. Carmen Concepción, Dean of Education, Miami Dade College, says:
“Throughout the 4 years they prepare, they build relationships with teachers in schools, practice, when the time comes for the internship the student decides if he is ready.”
The teacher’s skills were put to the test when she was hired by Kensington Park Elementary School, where she received support from the administration.
Michelle Fernández, principal of Kensington Park Elementary, says, “There was a situation in first grade, we had a lot of kids enrolled here. And she was able to help us, we were able to open another class in CP where she was able to take students from each class and improve the situation for teachers and children”.
Under the program, seniors completed their classroom practice, a requirement for graduation, and also received a salary when hired by the school system.
“We are the only entity in South Florida that offers students the opportunity to work and earn a salary while still a student at a teaching school,” says Concepción.
The program is expanding. The next batch of 52 students could graduate in December, and nearly half have already agreed to participate in this alliance with Miami Dade Public Schools.
“I have a mentor who helped me with everything I needed, I feel more than prepared,” says Madriz
“There was a situation in the first year, we had a lot of children enrolled here,” says Fernández.