Florida Department of Education

Florida Department of Education Selects PowerSchool to Support Statewide Educator Recruitment Efforts with Dynamic Job Board

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, November 9, 2023
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Specifically, FDOE will be using the Consortium Job Board to aggregate K-12 education jobs across the state to create a central hub for job seekers.

Key Points: 
  • Specifically, FDOE will be using the Consortium Job Board to aggregate K-12 education jobs across the state to create a central hub for job seekers.
  • FDOE will also be providing access to PowerSchool Candidate Assessment and PowerSchool Applicant Tracking , including the Spark Hire* video interview integration, for select schools.
  • PowerSchool’s Consortium Job Board and Applicant Tracking products provide school districts with a talent recruitment and management system that posts to state, regional, or consortium boards and to PowerSchool SchoolSpring Job Board – the nation’s most popular online K-12 job board.
  • Once the statewide job board is fully implemented, FDOE districts and charter schools can use the Educator Recruitment Cloud to digitally promote available roles and attract top K-12 education talent with a simplified workflow.

Yamaha Marine Awards Scholarship to High-Performing Manatee Technical College Students

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, November 2, 2023
Motor Sports, Sports, Maritime, Transport, Other Education, Training, University, Powerboating, Education, Florida Department of Education, CAPE, MTC, Workforce, Certification, MCP, Multimedia, Florida Department, Institute of technology, Book, Introduction, Nursing, Yamaha

Yamaha Marine recently awarded a $1,250 scholarship to Nicholas Peduzzi, a high-performing marine service technology student at Manatee Technical College (MTC).

Key Points: 
  • Yamaha Marine recently awarded a $1,250 scholarship to Nicholas Peduzzi, a high-performing marine service technology student at Manatee Technical College (MTC).
  • The Yamaha Marine Scholarship at MTC provides an incentive for the next generation of Yamaha Marine technicians to attend MTC, become Yamaha certified and begin a career at a Yamaha Marine dealership.
  • View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231102292693/en/
    Yamaha Marine Scholarship recipient at Manatee Technical College, Nicholas Peduzzi, is working to become a certified Yamaha Marine Technician.
  • (Photo: Business Wire)
    “Manatee Technical College is proud to work with industry leaders such as Yamaha,” said Doug Wagner, Director, Manatee Technical College.

NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY (NIIT) PARTNERS WITH FLORIDA ORGANIZATIONS FOR SEMICONDUCTOR ACCELERATOR EVENT

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, October 11, 2023
Economic development, Innovation, CareerSource Central Florida, Employment, Florida Department of Education, Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission, Workforce, Florida Department, CAPE, Creative industries, NIIT, Semiconductor, Nanotechnology

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla., Oct. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the National Institute for Innovation and Technology (NIIT) – the leader in developing the U.S. semiconductor talent pipeline through Registered Apprenticeships – will share insights on the national strategy to build that pipeline at the Securing Our Nation, Building the Future: Semiconductors, Nanotechnology, and Manufacturing Supply Chain Registered Apprenticeship Accelerator event.

Key Points: 
  • NIIT joins fellow workforce development leaders from the Florida Department of Education, CareerSource Brevard, FloridaMakes, and the Economic Development Commission of Florida's Space Coast from 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the Canaveral Port Authority.
  • The accelerator is timely, following a September announcement from Florida Governor Ron Desantis that $50 million will be dedicated to workforce development in the semiconductor industry, funded by FloridaCommerce and the Florida Department of Education.
  • NIIT's GAINS program provides participants the ability to "learn while they earn", positioning them for long-term employment in tech-related fields and advanced manufacturing.
  • For more information on NIIT and its programs, contact:
    Martha Ponge at the NIIT: [email protected]
    For more information about the accelerator event, contact:
    Melissa Byers at CareerSource Brevard: [email protected]

TMCF Supports Alpha Phi Alpha’s Decision to Pull Its Convention from Florida

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, August 2, 2023
Thurgood Marshall College Fund, DNA, Justice, Democracy, Tourism, Historically black colleges and universities, Justice Marshall, Florida Department, History, Black, Organization, School, Student, Alpha Phi Alpha, Supreme court, Regent, Florida Department of Education, Skin, Safety, National Society of Black Engineers, National Society

Thurgood Marshall would be proud of his fraternity brothers, Alpha Phi Alpha.

Key Points: 
  • Thurgood Marshall would be proud of his fraternity brothers, Alpha Phi Alpha.
  • The decision to cancel the convention should spark discussions about the underlying message behind the move.
  • Pass it on.” That’s what Alpha Phi Alpha did as an organization, and it aligns with Justice Marshall’s legacy.
  • Alpha Phi Alpha was one of many organizations to make a significant statement.

Free Florida Reading Program Expands Eligibility to VPK Students Just in Time for Back-to-School Season

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, July 19, 2023
Learning, Scholastic, University, UF, Magic, FAST, Life, Education, Teaching, What the Hell Did I Just Read, Reading, Research, Florida Department, Parent, Associate, Literacy, Science, Book, Student, Nature, Child, Florida Department of Education, Caregiver, New Worlds, Tutoring, VPK

TAMPA, Fla. and ORLANDO, Fla., July 19, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- As the school year begins for millions of students across Florida, the UF Lastinger Center for Learning's New Worlds Reading program is continuing its commitment to boost literacy rates by expanding program eligibility to Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) students.

Key Points: 
  • The New Worlds Reading Initiative will continue to support Florida families and children by delivering free books and reading resources directly to VPK-5th grade students this school year!
  • TAMPA, Fla. and ORLANDO, Fla., July 19, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- As the school year begins for millions of students across Florida, the UF Lastinger Center for Learning's New Worlds Reading program is continuing its commitment to boost literacy rates by expanding program eligibility to Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) students.
  • In Florida, there are more than 861,000 eligible VPK-5th grade students not yet reading on grade level.
  • "We're thrilled that New Worlds Reading has grown to support even more Florida kids," said Dr. Shaunté Duggins, Associate Director for the New Worlds Reading Initiative.

Hernando County School Board Approves Innovative Partnership to Tackle the Teacher Shortage

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, June 29, 2023
Partnership, National Math and Science Initiative, Teaching, Florida Education Association, Hernando County School Board, Florida Department, History, Veteran, Troop, Organization, Sunlight, Florida Department of Education, ESOL, Student, Speaker, ESE, Teacher, FEA, Education, Nursing, Tutoring, Science

BROOKSVILLE, Fla., June 29, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- The Hernando County School District is announcing a partnership with BloomBoard to address the nationwide teacher shortage by offering an on-the-job bachelor's degree program to aspiring teachers through its higher education partner network. The partnership, approved by the Board this week, provides the opportunity for a select group of experienced paraprofessionals and other school community members to be designated to participate in the program and assume the newly formed roles of Associate Teachers Substitute.

Key Points: 
  • BROOKSVILLE, Fla., June 29, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- The Hernando County School District is announcing a partnership with BloomBoard to address the nationwide teacher shortage by offering an on-the-job bachelor's degree program to aspiring teachers through its higher education partner network.
  • "This partnership is crucial in tackling the pressing issue of a nationwide teacher shortage within our community," said Superintendent John Stratton.
  • "This partnership represents a huge step forward in transforming the teacher development process, celebrating educators and improving student educational outcomes."
  • To learn more about the Hernando County School District, visit https://www.hernandoschools.org .

BUILDING HOPE NAMES CHRISTINE MENTIS NEW GOVERNANCE PROGRAM DIRECTOR

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, June 13, 2023
Volunteering, Hello English (government program), United States Department of Education, Partnership, Education, CSU, Lead, Building Hope, Florida Department, Strategic planning, K-12, School, Student, Florida Department of Education, Health, Conference, CSP, Management, Property management

WASHINGTON, June 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Building Hope, a non-profit foundation dedicated to creating high-quality K-12 charter school opportunities for students through its expertise in real estate, finance and operational services, today announced the appointment of Christine Mentis to the role of Governance Program Director within the Charter Support Unit (CSU), a free support network operated by Building Hope in partnership with the United States Department of Education through a federal dissemination grant and with the Florida Department of Education through a federal CSP grant. The CSU primary mission is to serve all charter schools in their first five years of operation, and it provides many free services to charter schools across the country.

Key Points: 
  • Building Hope appoints Christine Mentis as Governance Program Director within the Charter Support Unit.
  • "Building Hope and CSU are pleased to have Christine step into this important role to match passionate community volunteers to charter school governing boards," said Building Hope's President of Building Hope Services, Richard Moreno.
  • Prior to joining Building Hope and CSU two years ago, Ms. Mentis held positions in the education profession such as elementary school teacher, charter school founder and principal, and academic curriculum coach.
  • "It is an honor to step into the role of Governance Program Director," said Ms. Mentis.

Guess What? Mem Fox’s children's book has been banned in Florida as 'pornography' – but bathing is not a sexual act

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, May 16, 2023
PEN America, Review, Department, Book, Board, DeSantis, Gender Queer, Fox, American Library, The New Yorker, Minor, Classification, Terrorism, Ambiguity, Gender, Florida Department, Movement, New Yorker, Zoophilia, Puberty, School, Student, Human, Euthanasia, Australian Classification Board, Water, Florida Department of Education, Library, Education, Legislation, Property management, Practice of law, Birth control, Toy, Whaling, Property insurance, Guardian

Australian author Mem Fox’s 1988 picture book Guess What?, illustrated by Vivienne Goodman, has been banned in Duval County, Florida over allegations of “pornography”.

Key Points: 
  • Australian author Mem Fox’s 1988 picture book Guess What?, illustrated by Vivienne Goodman, has been banned in Duval County, Florida over allegations of “pornography”.
  • Because one illustration depicts the main character, “old witch” Daisy O'Grady, taking a bath.
  • Failure to comply is a third-degree felony, which can carry a prison sentence of up to five years.
  • Read more:
    Teacher sacked for reading bum book to students: the latest conservative book ban

Bodies are not ‘inherently sexual’

    • In one illustration, Daisy sits across a double bowl sink (that she is comically too big to fit in) wearing a scuba mask.
    • The bowls are filled with water, and she sits sideways in one with her feet splashing in the other.
    • The irony, of course, is that by trying to shelter children from sex – and from material that “sexualises students” – the law itself is sexualising children’s bodies.
    • By implying that nudity in a non-sexual context is “pornographic”, the Florida government and Department of Education is teaching children that their bodies are inherently sexual.

Australian attempted book bans haven’t worked

    • In the US, Gender Queer was 2021’s “most banned book in the country” and topped the American Library Association’s “Most Challenged” list in 2022 for “sexually explicit” content.
    • However, after review here by the Australian Classification Board, the book was given an “unrestricted classification” and consumer advice that it is “not recommended for readers under 15 years”.
    • While Australian legislation still allows books to be banned – and it does occur – book banning is much rarer here, and more likely to be focused on topics like euthanasia and terrorism.

Book banning as a presidential tactic

    • The surge of book banning in Florida appears to be political.
    • As The New Yorker has noted, the Florida law changes – and subsequent mass book removals in schools – have come in the wake of Florida governor Ron DeSantis’s bid for the US presidency.
    • In order to comply with government requirements spearheaded by DeSantis, the Florida Department of Education has put together strict, somewhat “confusing” criteria for book selection that all schools must follow.

Prison for violating book removal law

    • – and countless other banned books – do not actually fit the requirements for removal, but they are removed regardless.
    • This is because the law is vague and the penalty for violating it – a potential prison sentence – is severe.
    • Understandably, the ambiguity over what is and isn’t okay has led to mass book removals across Florida schools.

I'm an educator and grandson of Holocaust survivors, and I see public schools failing to give students the historical knowledge they need to keep our democracy strong

Retrieved on: 
Monday, May 15, 2023
People, PEN America, National Center for History in the Schools, Journalism, Democracy, Failure, National Center for Education Statistics, California Health Care Facility, LGBTQ, Disability, Homosexuality, Teaching, Social studies, Nazism, History, Riot, American Civil Liberties Union, Research, Florida Department, Civil, Genocide, Embarrassment, Comprehension, Diary, Permanent Delegate of Colombia to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Florida Department of Education, Literature, Student, School, Liberty, Anglo-French Wars, Propaganda, Crime, Moms for Liberty, Racism, Knowledge, Society, Labour, Book, Culture, Pennsylvania State University, Parent, Jews, Tutoring, Nursing, Management, The Holocaust

The move was based on a determination the books contain references to social justice issues “and other information” not aligned with Florida Law.

Key Points: 
  • The move was based on a determination the books contain references to social justice issues “and other information” not aligned with Florida Law.
  • At least 36 states have halted or are seeking the legal means to stop teachers from examining racism in their classrooms.
  • School districts around the country have banned books about issues ranging from racism to the Holocaust to the LGBTQ community.
  • Shaking their heads, the students stressed they’d “never heard about any of this.” They were talking about the Holocaust.
  • As an educator, I wondered if we’re failing to give students the knowledge and insight they need to sustain and thrive in a 21st-century democracy.

Costly ignorance

    • About two-thirds of respondents grossly underestimated the number of Hitler’s Jewish victims and knew little to nothing about the world’s largest-ever death camp, Auschwitz.
    • Ignorance plagues other difficult topics, as well.
    • In May 2023, the National Center for Education Statistics released a report showing eighth graders’ grasp of U.S. history and civics has reached a historic low.
    • They recurrently told my colleagues and me they need intensive training and strong support to teach sensitive subjects effectively.

Book bans right and left

    • Although book banning may seem like a product of our polarized period, it dates back to Colonial days.
    • These bans were last popular in the early 1980s, when Ronald Reagan was president.

Classroom constraints

    • Efforts to restrict what’s taught in the classroom also include bills blocking or restricting the instruction of certain sensitive issues.
    • Florida’s 2022 Parental Rights in Education law, for example, cautions educators to avoid teaching K-3 students about racism and sexual orientation or risk imprisonment.


    History has demonstrated – and, in recent years, so have citizens themselves – that democracy suffers when they are uninformed. We need look no further than the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. People who lacked an understanding of the American electoral process participated in such acts as riots, seditious conspiracy and more while attempting to overturn the 2020 presidential election.

Get There: Commissioner Diaz Announces the Adoption of 13 New Career and Technical Education (CTE) Programs

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, May 3, 2023
Commissioner, Workforce, Learning, Miami Dade College, Employment, Legislature, Data science, Florida College System, Career Pathways, Broward College, State government, Multimedia, Computer security, Florida Department, Fruit, Air traffic controller, Science, CTE, School, Student, Career, Machine learning, Economic development, Public service, Polk State College, Florida Department of Education, Florida State College, Education, Nursing, Management, Tech

TALLAHASSEE, Fla., May 3, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Commissioner of Education Manny Diaz, Jr. announced the adoption of 13 new career and technical education (CTE) curriculum programs for the 2023-24 school year, which will expand access to high-wage, in-demand jobs for Florida's high school and Florida College System students.

Key Points: 
  • TALLAHASSEE, Fla., May 3, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Commissioner of Education Manny Diaz, Jr. announced the adoption of 13 new career and technical education (CTE) curriculum programs for the 2023-24 school year, which will expand access to high-wage, in-demand jobs for Florida's high school and Florida College System students.
  • In 2019, Governor Ron DeSantis set a goal of making Florida the number one state in the nation for workforce education by 2030.
  • The adoption of these first-of-their-kind programs further supports Florida's nation-leading status while assisting students with wide-ranging backgrounds to prepare for high-paying occupations crucial to continued economic development.
  • The approved curriculum frameworks consist of seven college credit certificates, three secondary programs, one career certificate, one associate in science degree and one adult education program.