Miami-Dade schools struggling with teacher vacancies

The Miami-Dade County Public Schools system is currently facing about 208 teacher vacancies.

The most needed areas are Exceptional Student Education and the higher high school math and science classes such as algebra 2, calculus, physics and chemistry, said Elmo Lugo, public schools’ media relations director. Recruitment efforts are always ongoing through the public schools’ website, as well as partnerships with Miami Dade College and Florida International University, he said.

At the start of this academic school year, the Teaching Academy Dual Enrollment Program was launched. In a partnership with Miami Dade College (MDC), students will be able to earn college credits, which will potentially enable them to earn an associate degree while still in high school. If they participate in dual enrollment courses, students can accumulate additional college credits towards a bachelor’s degree in education.

The academies offer a comprehensive curriculum that will include content, pedagogy, and practical experience. Students can choose to focus on either Early Childhood Education (pre-K through second grade) or Principles of Teaching (kindergarten to 12th grade).

Ultimately the goal of the program is to spark a love of teaching in students and make it easier for them to meet all the academic goals that will put them in the classroom teaching students.

“We have a teacher shortage, so we want to capitalize on those students going from middle to high school interested in becoming teachers,” said Carmen Concepcion, MDC’s dean of education, about the program. “We now have a very specific pathway for them. We want to make sure we are preparing the best teachers for our community.”