Kelly Connolly, a recent 39-year-old St. Petersburg College graduate from the College of Education, starts a new career at Tinker K-8 School in Tampa this fall. In 2006, Connolly graduated from Portland State University with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Psychology. With the desire to become a teacher, she overcame many obstacles and faced her fear of possible failure to achieve this goal.

She enrolled in the St. Petersburg College Educator Preparation Institute. The three-semester program is designed for those with a non-education bachelor’s degree or higher to become Florida-certified teachers. The SPC EPI program requires students to attend a career seminar. Connolly choose the Hillsborough County Public School teacher interview-day, where she was interviewed by eight local schools. In the last interview for the day with Tinker, they expressed interest in hiring her but she needed the Elementary Education certification. A month later, Connolly passed the exam, completed a second interview and landed her first teaching position.

“Attending the career seminar was mandatory – and I am so grateful. I would never have landed where I am right now. A college that provides you with the resources to help you find a job – to me that is just above and beyond,” Connolly said.

If you want to learn more about opportunities with Pinellas County Schools (PCSB) you can view job openings here.  To learn more about job opportunities with Hillsborough County Public Schools click here.

SPC’s Career Services helps prepare students for success beyond the classroom. For more information, please visit their website. Or read more about Connolly on the college’s Education blog.