Polk State teacher education program is coming to Winter Haven Campus

Posted on by Polk Newsroom

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Aspiring teachers will now have the opportunity to pursue Polk State College’s Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education on the Winter Haven Campus with the expansion of the highly reputable program to East Polk County.

Classes will start in August 2024; open enrollment will begin on June 10. The Polk State Education Program will be hosting information sessions:

  • Wednesday, April 10, from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on the Winter Haven Campus in WST 126,
  • Thursday, April 11, from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on the Lakeland Campus in the LAC Student Center, and
  • Wednesday, April 17, from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on the Lake Wales Campus in room 202.

Polk State is proud to serve as the only public postsecondary institution offering state-approved teacher education preparation programs in Polk County. This is also why it is critical for the College to expand its offerings to the Winter Haven Campus, where students will be able to complete their bachelor’s degree and also participate in field experiences and internships on the east side of the county.

More than 160 Polk State Education graduates are working in 56 Polk County Public Schools – Polk County’s largest employer – with the College’s graduates boasting a 100% pass rate on the teacher certification exam. To give students a competitive edge in employment, Polk State also provides English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL); Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM); Exceptional Student Education (ESE); and Reading K-12 Endorsement competencies within its curriculum.

“As an educator at my core, I am confident when I say that Polk State’s Education Program is preparing the highest quality of educators to fulfill the needs of our local classrooms,” said Dr. Amy Bratten, Provost for Academic Affairs and Workforce Education. “The expansion of our Education Program to the Winter Haven Campus will make a rewarding career in teaching more accessible to the residents of Polk County.”

Interested individuals are encouraged to email educationbachelors@polk.edu and visit polk.edu/education for more information.