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.
Advertisement
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.
Advertisement
“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.
Advertisement
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.
Copyright 2024 by WPLG Local10.com – All rights reserved.
ORLANDO, Fla. — Lionel Messi scored twice in a four-goal second half, defender Telasco Segovia added a goal and two assists and defending champion Inter Miami CF rallied to beat Orlando City SC 4-2 on Sunday night, winning for the first time at Inter&Co Stadium.
Messi took a pass from Segovia and scored in the 57th minute to tie it 2-2, and Segovia scored unassisted in the 85th for the lead. Messi put the finishing touch on the victory when he scored off a free kick in the 90th.
“The victory belongs exclusively to the players,” Miami coach Javier Mascherano said after the game. “In the second half, they were a championship team. There were no tactics, nothing like that. There was heart, courage, possession, resilience, commitment. I think the team came out because they were champions last year.
“In the end, the players showed it. This victory is theirs.”
Advertisement
Messi’s first two goals of the season give him 52 in his first 55 regular-season MLS matches — 51 of them in his past 49 appearances. It also brought the reigning MLS MVP to 898 career goals scored, including 672 for Barcelona and 115 for Argentina.
“He’s the best player to ever play this sport. He’s a leader, and as a leader, he inspires others, but he also often needs to be inspired himself,” Mascherano said of Messi. “When he was driving forward, he had more attacking options, and with so many opportunities, he clearly has the ability to create chances like no one else, and that’s what allowed us to turn the game around.”
Marco Pašalić took a pass from Iván Angulo and scored in the 18th minute to give Orlando City a 1-0 lead. Pašalić has scored in four straight matches against Inter Miami.
Inter Miami players celebrate after scoring a goal against Orlando City in MLS.
Defender Griffin Dorsey set up Martín Ojeda for a goal six minutes later for a 2-0 advantage that stood through halftime.
Inter Miami cut it to 2-1 four minutes into the second half on Mateo Silvetti’s first career goal. Defenders Segovia and Facundo Mura had assists as the 20-year-old forward found the net in his fifth career appearance.
Advertisement
Segovia had eight goals and six assists as a rookie last season, while Mura collected his first assist in his first season.
Dayne St. Clair, the reigning goalkeeper of the year, turned away three shots — all in the second half of his second start with Inter Miami, but let in a soft goal for Orlando’s first.
Maxime Crépeau had four saves in his second start for Orlando City.
Teenager Colin Guske, 19, will miss Orlando City’s next match after the rookie picked up two yellow cards in his first start — the second one led to his exit in the 88th minute.
Inter Miami, which had never won in its previous nine trips to Orlando, was coming off a 3-0 road loss to LAFC.
Advertisement
Orlando City swept Inter Miami during the regular season last year and leads the all-time series 8-7-4.
Inter Miami plays D.C. United on Saturday at Audi Field. Orlando City is also on the road with a match against New York City FC.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this recap.
Rain floods Miami Beach streets, cut short Miami Heat Family Festival
MIAMI BEACH, Fla. — Much-needed rain fell across South Florida on Sunday, but the downpour quickly led to flooding and traffic headaches.
“The drainage systems aren’t the best but in ten minutes it will be gone,” one person said.
The rain lasted longer than 10 minutes, flooding several spots along Collins Avenue in Miami Beach.
Advertisement
In one neighborhood, at least a foot of water blocked the entrance. Drivers who attempted to pass through sent waves crashing onto nearby sidewalks.
The heavy rain also snarled traffic on parts of Interstate 95 and on the bridges to and from Miami Beach, slowing drivers trying to get around the area.
“It’s Miami for you. What do they call it, a sun shower?” one driver said.
The weather disrupted Sunday plans for many. The 26th annual Miami Heat Family Festival was cut short after strong winds swept through Dan Paul Plaza, knocking over several tents.
There is no word yet on how or when the Miami Heat plan to make up the family festival.
Advertisement
🏠 News From Your Neighborhood
Copyright 2026 by WPLG Local10.com – All rights reserved.
Brett Knese
Brett Knese joined the Local 10 News team as a general assignment reporter in March 2025.
Jack and Jill of America’s Miami chapter closed out Black History Month with an inaugural “Roots Across Waters” trip to Nassau, where families explored ancestral sites, honored the Bahamian labor that helped build early Miami, and donated Afro‑Caribbean children’s books to local students.
