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FL Lawmaker: Expertise Can Sub For Experience In STEM Classrooms

Rep. Manny Diaz (R-Hialeah) wants to allow schools to hire people STEM expertise even if they haven't taught before.
wikimedia commons
Rep. Manny Diaz (R-Hialeah) wants to allow schools to hire people STEM expertise even if they haven't taught before.
Rep. Manny Diaz (R-Hialeah) wants to allow schools to hire people STEM expertise even if they haven't taught before.
Credit wikimedia commons
Rep. Manny Diaz (R-Hialeah) wants to allow schools to hire people STEM expertise even if they haven't taught before.

Florida wants to improve instruction in Science and Math, but it can be difficult to attract talented teachers.  One state lawmaker wants to open the classroom to people with advanced degrees—even if they don’t have a background in teaching.Listen here.

Rep. Manny Diaz (R-Hialeah) wants people with advanced science or tech degrees teaching Florida’s K-12 students.  But he says existing requirements for continuing education could be a roadblock.  Diaz has filed a bill to allow some schools to sidestep those demands if they find the right candidate.

“I think we need to leave that up to the professionals on the ground,” Diaz says, “and have those principals and the superintendents really make those determinations. 

“And when a person does have those skills, and they have these higher level degrees,” Diaz goes on, “how do we get them in keep them and not lose them from the classroom.”

Diaz’s five year pilot program only applies to schools in the top ten percent based on district grades.

Copyright 2015 WFSU

Nick Evans came to Tallahassee to pursue a masters in communications at Florida State University. He graduated in 2014, but not before picking up an internship at WFSU. While he worked on his degree Nick moved from intern, to part-timer, to full-time reporter. Before moving to Tallahassee, Nick lived in and around the San Francisco Bay Area for 15 years. He listens to far too many podcasts and is a die-hard 49ers football fan. When Nick’s not at work he likes to cook, play music and read.