Educator Signing Day celebrates USF graduates launching teaching careers in Manatee County

With fanfare that matched the significance of their budding careers, 10 soon-to-be graduates from the University of South Florida College of Education recently signed contracts to teach at schools in Manatee County.

The Educator Signing Day celebration on the USF Sarasota-Manatee campus – not unlike ceremonies where high school student-athletes reveal their college choices – highlighted the strengthening relationship between the College of Education and the School District of Manatee County and their efforts to address teacher shortages in the Manatee-Sarasota region and across the state.

Along with family and friends of the new teachers, the audience included top officials from the Sarasota-Manatee campus, the College of Education and Manatee County Schools. Plus an appearance by USF mascot Rocky D. Bull.

“I cannot think of anything more important than young people going into teaching," Regional Chancellor Karen Holbrook said. “We know our students are ready to become teachers and will go out and do a phenomenal job.”

Eight of the new teachers are products of the elementary education program on the Sarasota-Manatee campus, and two are graduating from the secondary education program on the Tampa campus. All worked as paid interns in the Manatee County Schools. The students and their new schools:

· Jessica Bailey, Palmetto Elementary.

· Jennifer Bartens, Freedom Elementary.

· Shelbi Berner, Southeast High.

· Anna Bunyak, McNeal Elementary.

· Hailey Cosby, Samoset Elementary.

· Ashley Danko, Prine Elementary.

· Paige Dodd, Prine Elementary.

· Hope Gratzer, Southeast High.

· Ariana Morales, Samoset Elementary.

· Madison Atkinson, elementary school not yet determined.

Cheryl Ellerbrock, dean of the College of Education on the Sarasota-Manatee campus, said the paid internship program and the idea for Tuesday’s signing day event were products of the university and the school district sharing a common goal.

“We are in dire need of teachers,” Ellerbrock said. “We have to work in concert to prepare and educate our next generation of teachers.”

Manatee County Schools Superintendent Cynthia Saunders and USF officials hailed the growing relationship between the school district and the College of Education.

“All school districts are facing teacher shortages, so partnering with the USF Sarasota-Manatee campus is a wonderful way to not only attract those who have chosen to become teachers, but to ensure they choose the School District of Manatee County as their home upon their graduation,” Saunders said.

Schools, teachers and students in the district also benefit from the relationship between USF and Manatee County Schools, said Jennifer Jacobs, director of USF’s Office of Clinical Education.

“Having a teacher candidate in the classroom often means opportunities for more differentiated instruction as teacher candidates can work one-on-one or with small groups of students. Having two teachers in the classrooms benefits the PK-12 learner,” Jacobs said. “Manatee County teachers give back to the profession by mentoring the next generation of teachers through their coaching and guidance.”

USF’s teacher preparation program allows students to receive feedback they can apply in their classrooms as they start their careers.

“I feel like I will be able to really prioritize what my students need to grow within my community,” new Samoset Elementary teacher Ariana Morales said. “Having a job lined up before graduating really made this a stress-free transition. Now I have more time to focus on starting my classroom.”

Hailey Cosby, who also has accepted a position at Samoset Elementary, attended Manatee County Schools, from elementary school (Moody) to middle school (Lee) to high school (Manatee).

“Having grown up in this county, working in the elementary schools truly feels like a full circle moment,” she said. “I have already received so much support and guidance from the staff and teachers at Samoset Elementary and I cannot be more excited to begin my career there.”

Submitted by Marc R. Masferrer

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: USF College of Education addresses teacher shortage in Manatee-Sarasota