Offering paraprofessionals an on-the-job pathway to a bachelor's degree in education will build a local educator pipeline for schools across the state
MIAMI, Feb. 20, 2025 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- According to the Florida Education Association, nearly 10,000 of the state's public school teaching positions were vacant at the beginning of the 2024–2025 school year, with especially acute shortages in high-need areas such as Exceptional Student Education. To fill these vacancies, BloomBoard, a leading talent development provider for K–12 school districts, has partnered with Miami-based Barry University to launch an innovative on-the-job bachelor's degree program for aspiring educators.
The J.E.T. (Job Embedded Teaching) Pathway program provided by Barry University and BloomBoard allows paraprofessionals and staff who are already employed in schools to continue working in the classroom as they earn a Bachelor of Science in education, with specialization options in Early Childhood, Elementary, and Exceptional Student Education.
"This partnership creates an affordable pathway to bring qualified teachers into the classrooms where they're needed the most," said Dr. Pablo Ortiz, provost of Barry University. "Tapping the immense talent pool that already exists in our schools can decrease the teacher shortage in Florida—and in other areas around the country who choose to enroll in our program."
Candidates with associate degrees who are currently working in a school can enroll in the program as part of a cohort sponsored by their district. Every candidate who earns their bachelor's degree and passes all the required certification assessments will be eligible for a full teaching certificate in Florida.
"Our collaboration with Barry University creates a sustainable pipeline of qualified, passionate teachers," said Sanford Kenyon, the CEO of BloomBoard. "At a time when some schools are scrambling to fill vacancies with teachers who aren't certified in the field they're teaching, this program will deliver Florida's students the credentialed, dedicated teachers they need and deserve."
School districts in Florida, such as Hernando County School District, have already found success working with BloomBoard to implement job-embedded teacher advancement programs. Hernando County School District Superintendent Ray Pinder explained: "Through our partnership with BloomBoard, we found an untapped resource to help fill our instructional openings. Our Associate Teacher Substitute Program enables us to remove the barriers of time and cost and to support people who live in our community in becoming certified teachers."
School districts interested in participating in the J.E.T. Pathway program can learn more by contacting Michelle Licata of BloomBoard ([email protected]) or by visiting https://bloomboard.com/program/florida-teacher-apprenticeship.
About Barry University
As South Florida's largest private Catholic institution of higher learning and as one of the leading universities in the nation for promoting social mobility, Barry University is preparing students for the future workforce by offering them more than 100-degree programs in a variety of disciplines and giving them the tools and real-world experience that transform concepts into impact. Barry's programs center on experiential and service learning, responding to market conditions and addressing critical societal needs. Barry graduates are socially conscious leaders in many industries and in their communities. Learn more at Barry.edu.
About BloomBoard
BloomBoard is a talent development provider that enables K–12 school districts to grow, advance and retain educators by making professional education a benefit of employment. The company offers turnkey programs for school districts to move educators forward at all points of their professional journey. Its platform connects districts to higher education institutions that offer certification and degree programs using a unique, on-the-job instructional model. BloomBoard helps to assess needs, build and implement plans, and celebrate educator success. Visit bloomboard.com to learn more.
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SOURCE Barry University
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