Polk State, Polk County Public Schools partnership prepares paraeducators to excel as teachers

The Polk State College Education Program has long prided itself on creating the next generation of exemplary teachers. Its newest program, however, targets those already working in local schools.

In just its second year, the Para Pathway Program is a partnership between Polk State College and Polk County Public Schools. It provides paraeducators working in Polk County Public Schools with the opportunity to achieve their Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education degrees so that they may assume careers as teachers and lead their own classrooms.

“The pathway program is the premier education program here at Polk State College,” said Niqui Young-Pringle-Brown, Polk State Professor of Educator. “It is a program that is geared specifically to paraeducators. It allows them to go through an accelerated process. It pays homage to their experience and expertise working with students in the classroom.”

Paraeducators are assistants who perform a variety of tasks throughout schools, including aiding teachers in the classroom, providing individualized help to students, and clerical tasks. Avril Jones, a student in Polk State’s Para Pathway Program, has nine years’ experience as a paraeducator. She currently works at Chain of Lakes Elementary School in Winter Haven.

“I entered the Para Pathway Program to have a better education, so I can become a teacher,” she said. “My lifelong goal is to become a math coach. The teachers here make sure you’re successful in this program. They are behind you 100%.”

The Para Pathway Program allows paraeducators to continue their education while working full-time. Because paraeducators are already familiar with the school setting, they are ideal candidates to take the next step into teaching positions.

“What has stood out to me about this program is how much I’ve learned – being in the field, seeing the strategies, and background information we’re learning and applying it in the classroom,” said student Yareli Toribio, a second-year paraprofessional at Willow Oak Elementary School in Mulberry. “The most rewarding thing about working in the school setting is getting to reach different kids with different learning styles and personalities. This program has prepared me because I’ve learned management skills from different teachers. I feel well-rounded with the information I’ve been given.”

Young-Pringle-Brown and Caroline Giroux, Director for Recruitment and Engagement for Polk County Public Schools, say the partnership has been beneficial for both entities.

“The relationship between Polk County Public Schools and Polk State College is symbiotic,” Young-Pringle-Brown exclaimed. “They have been supportive. They have helped us by making sure our teaching candidates are prepared. They make sure we retain them. They make sure that once our teachers come into that classroom, they have mentors. They make sure they have job placement opportunities as well.”

Polk County Public Schools has had more than 300 teacher vacancies each of the last two summers. The Para Pathway Program is one way to fill teacher shortages.

“This connection has taken off because we all have the same want and need for students in our county,” Giroux said. “We put our students first and want to make sure they have the best, high-quality teachers in the classroom. The communication between Polk County Public Schools and Polk State College has grown and has been very successful.”

The Polk State Education Program integrates English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL); Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM); Exceptional Student Education (ESE); and Reading K-12 endorsements. This customized, standards-based approach is designed to provide graduates with a competitive edge in employment.

“It’s hands-on, which is very important, because you’re learning how to become a teacher in the classroom,” Jones exclaimed. “It is very helpful. You learn a lot in this program.”

Since its inception for the Fall 2023 Semester, the program has been successful in attracting accomplished paraprofessionals. The first cohort featured Julia Barrett, who was recognized as School-Related Employee of the Year for the 2023-24 Academic Year at Carlton Palmore Elementary School.

“My advice for students entering this program is to not give up and pull through; you’ve got this,” Toribio advised. “Everything is going to fall into place.”

Jones and Toribio said the camaraderie between the cohorts and Polk State faculty make for a close-knit environment with a built-in support system. Young-Pringle-Brown urged participants to make connections with others in the group to maximize success.

“My advice for paraeducators entering the program is to make that bond with your cohort. Make that bond – seek it, keep it, hold onto it,” she said. “Immerse yourself in what we have to offer. When you take all those things and put them together, you become that premier teacher – that teacher who will make waves, who will become Teacher of the Year, because they have the ideas of how to serve our students and will make our county one of the best in the nation.”

Paraeducators in Polk County start at $20,925. The starting salary for teachers in Polk County is currently $47,500 – higher than the national average and 127% higher than the starting pay for paraeducators. The Para Pathway Program provides upward mobility within the educational field. Polk County Public Schools provides increases and bonuses for additional degrees and certifications.

“My advice for someone considering the program is to just review the whole process,” Giroux said. “Where do you see yourself? What do you need as a para and soon-to-be teacher to feel supported and to be successful once you become a teacher?”