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Educator Recruitment, Development, & Retention

 

 Educator Recruitment, Development, & Retention 

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Employment Opportunities Overview

Florida is a growing state and is always looking for top quality teacher. Although Florida is experiencing a rapid growth and has a tremendous teacher shortage and this shortage is projected to continue over the next decade, the demand for teachers will vary by certification area and geographic location within the state. The following is an overview of this variance in job opportunities. This overview is provided as a tool for you to use in determining how you may best market yourself in your second career in Florida's school system. Also, due to the No Child Left Behind Act, which funds the Troops to Teachers Program, there is an emphasis on the need for highly qualified teachers in Title I schools. All schools which are considered high need schools for bonus qualification under the Troops to Teachers Program, are Title I school.

By Certification

The Department of Education considers exceptional student education (special education), ESOL, technology education, mathematics and science critical need areas. State financial assistance may be available for completing the certification requirements in one of these designated critical needs areas.

The state also allows school districts to hire a teacher out-of-field. This permits a district to hire the best qualified teacher when they are not able to locate a teacher fully certified in-field. If you are willing to teach out-of-field, the following applies:

  • You must apply for and be eligible for a Temporary Certificate in at least one subject area.
  • District policy must allow the hiring of teachers out-of-field.
  • District policy may require a specific number of courses or some experience in the out-of-field subject area.
  • District policy may limit how long a teacher may be employed out-of-field.
School districts will hire teachers out-of-field only in those areas that are in high demand in that district. Although the areas of special education, ESOL, mathematics, science and technology education have been listed as high demand or critical need areas, a district may have a critical need for a teacher in any subject at any time.

Also, no specific certification is required for teachers in Dropout Prevention Programs or Alternative Education Programs. However, you must be eligible for certification in an academic subject area.

By Location

Florida is growing at a phenomenal rate. However, the rate of growth varies across the state and may influence the demand for teachers in a particular location. Most of the teaching opportunities will be in areas with a high growth rate, while areas with moderate or little growth, will have fewer schools and less demand.

Fast growth in Florida is taking place in the central and southern parts of the state with school districts in the northern and panhandle areas typically experiencing slower growth. Although the number of teacher vacancies is typically in direct relation to the growth in an area, there are other demographic influences to consider when searching for teaching opportunities. Although some counties are good growth areas, the number of qualified teachers living in the area and seeking teaching positions is may be high. Consequently, competition is keen. Likewise, districts that are not considered high growth areas may not have a substantial pool of teachers available to fill vacancies that may arise. Therefore, when a vacancy does occur in a slower growing district, it may be difficult for the district to find a fully qualified teacher. Also, the districts in the southern portion of Florida that are inland are not high growth areas, but at times, have a high demand for teachers. This may be due to the fact that many people relocating to south Florida move to coastal areas and the districts located in south central Florida are, at times, left with a shortage of teachers. Again, specific needs will vary by district.