Transform lives and shape futures by igniting your passion for teaching and making a meaningful difference in your community through a rewarding career change.
If you currently living in the Florida Keys and want to switch careers or return to teaching we will reward you for it!
Grant awards: $10,000
The Golden Fleece Foundation is expanding its 2022 initiative aimed at getting more Black teachers into classrooms by encouraging potential Black teachers to certify and apply for full-time teaching positions in Monroe county schools.
But it gets better…
Accept a teaching job in the Monroe County School District and you will automatically be accepted into our New Local Teacher Fellowship and be rewarded $10,000.
Purpose: To encourage Black residents to teach in the Florida Keys.
Grant awards: $10,000 in total. To be paid out $5000 at the beginning of your first school year, and the final $5000 at the beginning of your second school year.
How does it work?
Apply. Get Hired. Get paid.
Andrea Jacobs, the first New Local Teacher Fellowship Recipient, receiving her check from the initiative founder John Padget.
Press Release
BLACK EDUCATOR INITIATIVE EXPANDS
All newly hired Black teachers in Monroe to receive Fellowship
The Golden Fleece Foundation is expanding its 2022 initiative aimed at getting more Black teachers into classrooms by encouraging potential Black teachers to certify and apply for full-time teaching positions in Monroe county schools.
“Newly hired Black teachers already living in Monroe County will receive a $10,000 Fellowship, half payable when the teacher begins year 1, and half payable at the beginning of year 2.” explained John Padget, founder of the Golden Fleece Foundation (GFF).
Newly hired new-to-county Black teachers will continue to be eligible for the $30,000 Fellowship announced last year. The first to qualify were: Charice Petithomme (Poinciana), Riva Norris (Coral Shores), Erica Martin (Gerald Adams), and Anita Linville (Key West High School).
There are only 14 Black teachers amongst 613 teachers across the county, just 2%. But about 1000 Black students constitute 12% of the total enrollment of about 8000. “The district should have about 70 Black teachers to close the gap,” Padget said.
“Nationally recognized research shows that Black students having at least one Black teacher in the classroom are more likely to achieve their God-given potentials,” according to Dr. Darryl Robinson, Senior Paster of the 87-year-old Trinity Wesleyan Methodist Church in Key West.
Padget continued, “New Black teachers must have the credentials that qualify them to be hired by any district school, including the charters. The school district will notify GFF when a new teacher begins work, and the Fellowship will be granted.