01.24.06
Florida recruiting teachers
State unveils $239M teacher plan
– reported by The South Florida Business Journal
At an event this morning at a Miami-Dade County middle school, the governor recommended the state allocate $239 million to recruit and retain high-quality teachers.
Part of the plan includes helping educators know about options to make housing more affordable for teachers - a problem especially in South Florida. The plan also includes the participation of a Coral Gables-based advertising firm to help boost awareness of the state’s teacher shortage. Cooper DDB, which the state said is working pro bono, is to use emotional appeals to show how the state needs 30,000 new teachers - though students need need only one. The campaign may include using Internet marketing techniques, advertising placement in college publications and development of other collateral materials.
In addition to the awareness drives, the Department of Education said it plans a national recruitment effort and expansion of the www.teachinflorida.com Web site.
The site allows teachers to post their resumes online and review job announcements. The site is also where the state is to explain about-low interest loans and zero-down payment housing programs for teachers.
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