MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – At the beginning of the 2023-2024 school year, Florida faced a staggering challenge: over 5000 teaching positions remained unfilled.

This shortage, attributed to a variety of factors including low wages, political pressures in the classroom, and increased stressors, has deterred many college students from pursuing careers in education.

The crisis persists, which is evident in Miami-Dade where approximately 70 core instructional teacher positions remain vacant.

In response, Miami-Dade County Public Schools, the nation’s third-largest school district, is taking proactive measures.

On Friday, they are formalizing a partnership with the Teacher Accelerator Program (TAP) through a memorandum of understanding.

TAP, an initiative of Achieve Miami, aims to alleviate the teacher shortage by offering a streamlined pathway into the profession for college students who did not major in education.

Miami-Dade Public Schools Superintendent Jose Dotres highlighted that around 60 percent of the teachers they hire come from non-traditional educational backgrounds.

“This program provides an opportunity for you to prepare before you enter the classroom,” said Dotres.

Dotres expressed personal resonance with the initiative, noting that he, too, could have benefited from such a program during his college years.

“I would have probably entered in this program because I was a career changer,” he said.

The program offers interested individuals a one-semester course, followed by a paid six-week summer internship. Successful completion leads to state certification and a guaranteed teaching position in a Miami-Dade public school.

Jasmine Calin-Micek, TAP’s Senior Director, noted that the initiative has already seen success, with initial cohorts now actively teaching in classrooms.

“We’ve had an opportunity of one of our first cohorts already go through—they’re in the classroom now,” she said.

The program, which began with 40 students at the University of Miami last year, has now expanded to include approximately 150 participants from institutions such as Miami-Dade College and Florida International University.

Leslie Miller Saiontz, Founder and President of Achieve Miami, emphasized the program’s dual benefit of serving the community while providing enriching experiences for participants.

“What a great opportunity to come in, give back to your community,” said Miller Saiontz, adding, “but I wouldn’t be surprised if you get hooked.”

For more information on the Teacher Accelerated Program, click here.