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left to right: Dr. Gregory F. Aloia, college of education dean, Jan Andrew, AIT program mentor and Christine McCaul, 2006 FAU alumna and former AIT student attend a recent celebration of the AIT Program’s five-year anniversary.
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The College of Education is celebrating the Accelerated Induction into Teaching (AIT) program’s five-year anniversary. The innovative program, established in 2002, allows qualified education students to be hired as teachers in elementary or secondary classrooms during the final phase of their degree programs. The AIT approach goes beyond the traditional teaching experience by requiring participants to commit to completing the school year as regular teachers in their assigned classrooms. In the program’s 10-semester history, 147 students have graduated, and more than 73 percent are still with their original schools.
The program was developed in response to a teacher shortage in Okeechobee County. School officials approached the College of Education in search of student teaching candidates. Dean Greg Aloia responded with the AIT concept, realizing that the program could address teacher shortage issues in Okeechobee County and on the Treasure Coast. Initially, four students were placed in Okeechobee County in spring 2002. By fall 2002, 12 students were in AIT positions in Okeechobee, St. Lucie and Indian River counties. The program has now expanded to include school districts in Palm Beach, Hendry and Martin counties.
“AIT creates a win-win situation for all involved,” said Dr. Mary Lou Goldberg, the program 's original coordinator. “The counties get qualified teachers to meet their needs, the kids have a teacher who will stay through the year, the University is able to offer students an enriching component to the teacher education program and the student gets a paid internship with a job guarantee for the year.”
For more information, contact Dr. Goldberg at 772-873-3352 or mgoldber@fau.edu.
Treasure Coast Campus Vice President Gerri McPherson hosts a radio show on WIRA 1400 AM, a popular Treasure Coast radio station. Station owner and Treasure Coast Campus Advisory Board Member Larry Lee initiated the show to increase University awareness among his listeners. The show titled “Discover FAU,” airs the first Thursday of each month. Guests have included Dr. Don Leone of the newly formed geomatics engineering program, Head Football Coach Howard Schnellenberger and President Brogan. For more information, contact Cara C. Perry, Treasure Coast University Relations, at 6-3339 or at ccarlton@fau.edu.
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