Several groups of the school district’s Associate Teacher Substitute Program were recognized at this week’s meeting of the Hernando School Board. Please help us congratulate Cohort 1 of the program, who successfully completed their first semester (which had a 100% completion rate)! Cohort 2, who have just begun their first semester, were also recognized and welcomed into the program! Also recognized at the meeting is the team of district staff, as well as school administration, who contribute to the success of the program.
“We are the first school district in Florida to offer a program that removes barriers of time and money for those who wish to teach,” said Ray Pinder, Assistant Superintendent of Business Support Services. “The program invites local residents with at least 60 credit hours of college to be employed at a rate of $20 an hour, with the benefits of a district full-time substitute, while earning their bachelor’s degree in elementary education for no out-of-pocket costs.” Pinder also said the program becomes the bridge to increasing their pay to beginning teacher pay ($49,500 yr) after completing their degree and certification requirements within two years.
Through a flexible, on-the-job program, individuals with an associate’s degree (or those who have completed at least 60 credits) can earn a fully accredited Bachelor of Elementary Education degree through a partnership between the school district and BloomBoard. The district will pay for the program.
This is a first for Hernando County, and this program has led to amazing opportunities. This is an innovative way to create new pathways for recruiting and retaining teachers.
We are the first school district in Florida to offer a program that removes barriers of time and money for those who wish to teach. Our associate teacher program invites local residents with at least 60 hours of college credits to be employed at a rate of $20 an hour, with all the benefits of a district, a full-time substitute teacher.
