District Dispatches

As part of its efforts to recruit and retain teachers, the following programs will produce new teachers for OCPS this month:

The Teacher Quality Program is a partnership between OCPS and the University of Central Florida. It is designed to recruit UCF interns and prepare them for teaching through an enhanced one-year program. In this fourth year, 21 interns have signed letters to work in select Title I schools.

The Pathways to Teaching Program will graduate 14 paraprofessionals or program assistants from Rollins College. This partnership between OCPS and the college allowed participants to accelerate their education at no cost and earn a Bachelor of Arts in education, including Elementary Education, K-6 certification with Reading and ESOL endorsements. Cohort members also received a laptop and targeted support. To increase highly-qualified teachers at Title I schools, participants committed to continuing to teach at a Title I school and have been guaranteed an instructional position. Twenty-five elementary and middle school math and science teachers with their Master's of Education degrees will graduate from the fifth cohort of the OCPS/Lockheed

Mathematics and Science. The program is aimed at retaining and recruiting teachers in these disciplines, specifically in Title I schools, and to build teacher capacity and impact student achievement. Maxey Elementary has received the East Coast Technical Assistance Center Florida’s Exceeding Expectations Award as a Title I school that is exceeding expectations by showing significant progress in improving student achievement. ECTAC offers technical assistance to 47 Florida school districts regarding selective programs contained in the Every Student Succeeds Act.

Originally passed in 2010, the one mill ad valorem property tax was created to preserve academic programs, retain highly-qualified teachers, and protect arts, athletics and student activities in Orange County schools. Orange County voters renewed the property tax in 2014 and 2018. The continuation of the one mill property tax will be on the Orange County primary election ballot August 23, providing funding through June 2027. The board made the decision to modify the ballot language to include “compensating teachers and support staff”. This is an effort to address the need for additional compensation for experienced and skilled employees whose salaries have lagged due to compression and the focus on beginning teacher starting salary and the $15 per hour minimum wage. To be eligible to vote, your voter registration information must be current. For employees, School Board policy allows time for all employees to cast their votes on primary and general election days. Votes may also be cast by mail or by early-vote. Voter and election information is available at the Orange County Supervisor of Elections website here (ocfelections.com).

The OCPS Mental Health Commission continues to share Nourish to Flourish gifts with randomly selected staff members to encourage them to pay attention to our physical, emotional, behavioral, cognitive, interpersonal, spiritual and professional needs. Congratulations to the following recent recipients of a $25 gift card: