Carla Jimenez, St. Petersburg College graduate, desired to make a difference in the classroom. After graduating from the College of Education, Jimenez knew she was prepared to help students excel just like she did at SPC. The small classrooms and one-on-one attention from the professors, pushed her to achieve her goals of being a teacher. Watch her success story.

Education excellence with SPC

SPC College of Education provides excellence in preparing their students for the classroom. Students enjoy the smaller classroom sizes and one-on-one attention. The instructors are able to push students toward excellence due to the intimate environment. The quality of the program at such an affordable rate, gives students peace of mind.

SPC is well known for the quantity and quality of our school-based hours requirements for students. Approximately 100 final interns and 200 practicum students are placed each term within Pinellas, Pasco, Hernando, Hillsborough, Manatee and Polk County schools. The wide-variety placement prepares future educators for success.

Education degrees meeting classroom needs

The College of Education offers a variety of degrees to meet the growing needs for a  Bachelors of Science, Associates of Science, Certifications and Non-Certification degrees. Some of the degrees include:

• Bachelor of Science in Exceptional Student Education (K-12)
• Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education (K-6)
• Bachelor of Science in Pre-kindergarten/Primary Education (age 3 to grade 3)
• Bachelor of Science in Educational Studies
• Associate of Science degree in Early Childhood Education

Explore your future as an educator with SPC College of Education.

St. Petersburg College is partnering with Pinellas County Schools to cultivate the best environment for teachers with the Elite Educators Program. Watch this video featuring Dr. Michael Grego, Pinellas County Superintendent of Schools.

Elite Educator program overview

The vision for the Elite Educator program is for Pinellas County to have the best teachers in the country. The program revolutionizes the way K-6 teachers learn to teach,  and includes an endorsement in ESOL (English to Speaks of Other Languages) and Reading. In addition:

• Students will benefit from extensive field placements from the beginning of the program
• General education classes that focus on mastery of subject content
• Students will take education classes from day one, compared to most programs who don’t start them until the third and fourth years.

The Elite Educator program also guarantees students who completes the program within four years a paid internship and a job with Pinellas County Schools upon completing the internship.

Tricia Bright, a St. Petersburg College Elementary Education graduate, is the successful founder of Little Techs and Junior Techs LLC. Little Techs, a fun educational technology-based program, was founded in 2011 with the teaching philosophy  of “I do. We do. You do.” Watch Tricia Bright success story.

After observing her 3-year-old daughter having fun while learning on the iPad, Bright developed the passion to offer the same experience to future “little techs”. The company started with 7 schools the first year but now has expanded to 25 schools.

Internships offer hands-on knowledge

Bright attributes her entrepreneurial success to her experience at St. Petersburg College’s Education program.

“If I hadn’t gone to St. Petersburg College, I know 100% without a doubt I wouldn’t be where I am today,” said Bright.

She believes the internship through the college provided an invaluable experience and hands-on knowledge of teaching in the classroom.  The long-term impact of St. Petersburg College professors, helped catapult Little Tech success.

St. Petersburg College’s  Education program is one of Florida’s exemplary teacher preparation programs.  The College of Education areas of study include:

• Early Childhood Education
• Elementary Education
• Exceptional Student Education
• Interdisciplinary Educational Studies
• Math and Science for Middle Grades and Secondary Education

For more information, visit the website.