This week marks the first of summer break for Miami-Dade Public Schools, but those committed to education continue to work on solutions to address the statewide teacher shortage.
Now a program offers immigrants with college degrees the chance to become teachers in South Florida. It is a Miami Dade College plan of only 10 months with online and in-person classes and for which there is financial aid.
An English class is part of the new requirements of Miami Dade College’s Educator Preparation Institute, known as EPI, for its acronym in English.
Niurka Goenaga, dean of a faculty on the Padrón campus of Miami Dade College, explains that “what this program teaches is pedagogy to become good teachers.”
The program began almost 20 years ago and today includes an advanced English class for professionals from other countries who want to reinvent themselves as teachers in South Florida.
“There are people with degrees who want to feel more fulfilled and there is a tremendous lack of teachers in the public school system,” says Dean Goenaga.
To participate in the 10-month course, which requires a university degree, the goal is to obtain a certificate of eligibility from the state department of education. A beginning teacher in Miami-Dade public schools starts at an average salary of $48,000 a year.
“What is required for that person to enter that program is a bachelor’s degree from their country, it doesn’t matter in what area, now that everyone is different, the universities are different, it is very important that the person come talk to us because each case is individual”, explains the dean.
Karim Acevedo, a kindergarten teacher at Silver Bluff Elementary, is a Nicaraguan who participated in the program. She recalls: “I have my university degree, I came to this country… and then I came here, to the education department to look for information and I met people who obviously take you by the hand, and tell you, this, you are going to do this requirement, you are going to do this”.
Acevedo, who just finished her first year as a kindergarten teacher at Silver Bluff Elementary, only adds: “I can say it in one simple word, ‘spectacular'”, while ensuring that her new career is very “rewarding”.
A lot of support, incredible, and being in the classroom and seeing each child, and seeing a need, a different environment, a different world, I definitely said: ‘I’m going to continue with this,’ remarks teacher Acevedo.
According to the Florida Department of Education, the teacher shortage is critical. Areas of teacher need include elementary education, special education, and English for speakers of other languages.
The next semester of the EPI program begins in August, but English classes are being offered this summer.
More information about the Miami Dade College School of Education’s Educator Preparation Institute (EPI) can be found at: or you can call the phone: 305-237-6203 and write to the email: [email protected]
2023-06-13 21:23:30
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