Q. What kind of background do I need?
A. The only non-negotiable pre-requisites to becoming an Educator Of Change are a baccalaureate degree from an accredited four-year college and a strong commitment to positively influencing student achievement and young lives. We expect our cohort to represent a diverse range of backgrounds, ages and talents.

Q. Are there any exam requirements?
A. To become a member of the EOC cohort, you will need a passing score on the subject area exam for the subject you wish to teach.

Q. How can I prepare for the subject area test?
A. You can download an overview of the questions by going to www.fl.nesinc.com. or purchase study guides online at sites such as www.xamonline.com. Some Florida Teacher Certification Exam (FTCE) study guides are also available for purchase at local bookstores.

Q. How do I register for the subject area exam?
A. You can access registration information for both computer and paper/pencil administration at www.fl.nesinc.com. Please be aware that registration deadlines apply for paper/pencil administrations.

Q. What requirements will I have to meet to receive a Professional
Educator’s Certificate?
A. Educators will benefit from a ten-month combination of connected coursework, field experiences and mentoring. While the Department of Education allows three years to fulfill requirements, Educators Of Change provides an accelerated track. At the successful conclusion of this period, they will be granted a Professional Educator's Certificate from the State of Florida. The process is streamlined and simple.

Q. Am I eligible to apply to Educators Of Change if I am currently certified in Florida or elsewhere?
A. No, Educators Of Change is seeking individuals who want to change their career paths. However, candidates who took a hiatus from teaching to follow other pursuits may be considered.

Q. Can you describe the teacher training?
A. The coursework will be competency based, problem focused and developmental. It will blend onsite and distance learning instruction, with the majority of instruction onsite. Examples of subject matter are classroom management techniques, technology for teaching and reading strategies. We realize that many Educators are coming from a fast-paced business environment, and we are tailoring our instruction to meet their needs.

Q. Will graduate credits be awarded for coursework?
A. Your coursework can be applied to an advanced degree. We encourage lifelong learners who want to pass on their passion for learning to their students as lifelong educators.

Q. What is the cost of the program?
A. The cost for the current EPI program is $2200. This covers the EPI custom text, application fee, and professional development books. The cost for the 2010-2011 EPI has not yet been determined but a reasonable increase is anticipated.

Q. When will teacher-training classes be held?
A. EOC Boot camp information to follow.

Q. Who will be teaching the courses?
A. The academic/training component of this initiative will be under the auspices of lead instructor Lynne Raiser, Ed.D., Professor Emeritus Coordinator, Gladys Prior Awards for Career Teaching Excellence College of Education and Human Services University of North Florida, who was the first recipient of the Gladys Prior Award. Teacher preparation curricula will be delivered by UNF faculty members, all of whom have at least three years’ experience in K-12 educational settings contributing to effective teacher preparation.

Q. What happens if I’m not a good teacher?
A. Your concern for kids and your commitment to them are great first steps to becoming an excellent teacher. Additionally, Educators Of Change has a variety of supports in place to help you succeed. A field coach will help by observing your class and problem solving with you to strengthen teaching skills. Additionally, you will have the opportunity to observe expert teachers as they co-present instruction in site-based course sessions. Finally, you will benefit from both individual and group-based mentoring.

Q. How long is the commitment?
A. While there is no formal requirement, our goal is to create lifelong educators who are passionate about their work and are committed to providing quality education for all of Jacksonville’s children.

Q. Where will I teach?
A.While teachers are needed most in the urban core, Educators will be filling vacancies in other areas as well. We will consider requests for geographical areas, but all applicants must maintain some flexibility in placement priorities. We encourage candidates to visit schools and neighborhoods.

Q. Will there be other Educators Of Change in my school?
A. Every effort will be made to make sure that Educators are clustered or at least paired in schools. By doing so, Educators will be provided with a natural support network of like-minded individuals on a daily basis.

Q. Will I be accepted?
A. Educators Of Change is a highly selective program. Since the cohort will be limited in size to ensure quality instruction, we anticipate receiving far more applications than we can accept. Preference will be given to those candidates willing to teach in the following areas: math, science, special education and elementary education. Those candidates who are not accepted are encouraged to apply to the District’s or the University of North Florida’s other alternative-certification programs.

Q. What is the timeline for the application process?
A. Please click here to see the most recent application and for important dates.

Q. What is a teacher’s salary?
A. Please click here for the most current salary information.