The School District of Lee County anticipates the need to fill hundreds of teaching vacancies heading into the 2020-21 school year, and its recruitment efforts are extending beyond colleges of education into the community.

On June 10, The School District will host two webinars over Zoom titled “How to Become a Teacher in Lee County.” The sessions will walk prospective career-changers and working professionals through the process of becoming certified to teach in Florida.

“The current job market is very unstable and many professionals, including those with advanced degrees, are contemplating a career change,” said Angela Pruitt, chief human resource officer for The School District of Lee County. “A career in education is personally rewarding and offers a high level of job stability because the community continues to grow, and our strong compensation and benefits package is hard to match in the private sector.”

Florida is one of 48 states that offer alternative routes to becoming a certified teacher. Individuals who already earned a bachelor’s degree in any field can become eligible for Florida teacher certification by passing a subject area exam in their area of expertise, completing additional coursework or enrolling in a teacher preparation program. 

The School District is hiring teachers at the elementary, middle and high school levels with a focus on high-demand positions like science, technology, engineering and math. Prospective teachers with backgrounds in communications, social work, counseling and psychology also are needed to fill vacancies.

Individuals without a bachelor’s degree are invited to apply for positions as a paraprofessional or guest teacher.

The hourlong Zoom webinars will be held at 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Wednesday, June 10. To register, please visit LeeSchools.net/Careers/How_To_Become_A_Teacher or call 239-337-8147.

The School District of Lee County’s efforts to put “The Right Talent in the Right Place” means that new teachers will receive the support and necessary resources that will enable them to succeed upon entering the field of education.

The District offers a competitive and comprehensive compensation plan for its employees, and the starting compensation package of over $53,000 for teachers encompasses salary, medical coverage and life insurance, pension and investment plan contributions, and social security and Medicare employer contributions. Additional benefits and earning opportunities are also available via advanced degree supplement, summer school, athletic coaching and more. Upon hire, a personal benefits selection process will be made available to eligible employees.