Seminole State, UCF, and Seminole County Public Schools partner for TEACH
Monday, February 24, 2020
Written by: Mark Richardson
A new educational partnership in Seminole County will help fill the critical teaching shortages.
Seminole State College of Florida, the University of Central Florida (UCF), and Seminole County Public Schools (SCPS) have partnered to launch a new program to fill teaching positions in the school district.
The Education and Cultivation Homegrown (TEACH) program was developed so SCPS can grow their own teaching staff. "The intent of the TEACH program is to elevate the teaching profession by fostering and developing our own SCPS homegrown teachers and keeping that talent here in our district," said Walt Griffin, Ed.D., Superintendent of Seminole County Public Schools.
Under the program, qualified seniors in high schools across the county are identified by the school district and during their senior year, through Seminole State’s dual enrollment program, take Introduction to the Teaching Profession in the fall online and Children and Adolescent Development for Educators online in the spring semester.
Once the senior graduates from high school, they attend Seminole State to complete their Associate in Arts (A.A.) degree.
"This is a wonderful partnership and example of how we’re making education a priority in our community,” said Seminole State President Dr. Georgia Lorenz. “We are proud to be working with Seminole County Public Schools and UCF on this important initiative.”
During their time at Seminole State, each student works with an assigned Seminole State advisor and a UCF Success Coach to ensure they have a seamless transition to UCF.
“Developing and keeping talent in our community makes us all better,” said UCF Interim President Thad Seymour Jr. “By leveraging the strength of our DirectConnect™ to UCF partnership, we are creating a seamless pathway for our students to earn a life-changing degree while building a critical talent pipeline to educate the next generation.”
After graduating from Seminole State with their A.A. degree, the student transfers to UCF to complete their bachelor’s in education. Upon graduating from UCF, they are guaranteed a teaching position with Seminole County Schools.
Scholarships are available for students who enroll in the program.
Seminole State College of Florida, established in 1965, serves nearly 30,000 students across six sites in Central Florida. A comprehensive college, Seminole State has awarded more than 100,000 credentials, from bachelor's degrees to high school diplomas, and offers more than 200 degrees, certificates and programs designed for success. For more about the college, visit seminolestate.edu
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The University of Central Florida (UCF) is a public research university located in metropolitan Orlando. According to U.S. News & World Report’s 2020 Best Colleges guide, UCF ranks among the nation’s 20 most innovative universities. UCF is also ranked as a best-value university by Kiplinger and The Princeton Review, as well as one of the nation’s most affordable colleges by Forbes. The university confers almost 17,000 degrees each year and benefits from a diverse faculty and staff who create a welcoming environment and opportunities for all students to grow, learn and succeed.
About Seminole County Public Schools (SCPS)Seminole County Public Schools (SCPS) is the 12th largest school district in Florida and is 60th nationally with more than 67,000 students and 10,000 employees. SCPS is a leader in education throughout Central Florida and the State and is widely recognized as a Premier National School District.