Minority Teacher Education Scholarship
Eligibility
Individuals who are selected for the MTES must:
- Be a resident of the State of Florida.
- Be a member of one of the following racial groups: African American/Black, Hispanic/Latino, Asian American/Pacific Islander, or American Indian/Alaskan Native.
- Be newly admitted into a teacher education program at any of FFMT's participating universities/colleges.
- Be a junior and have not earned a baccalaureate degree in Education.
- Have earned 60 credit hours or an AA degree.
- Have not exceeded 18 hours of upper division education courses.
Selection
Each participating institution appoints a screening committee to review each application. The committee nominates candidates to FFMT’s administrative office, which announces its final selection each semester. Each new scholar will receive a congratulatory letter and a promissory note that must be signed and returned within 30 days of receipt. Scholars must keep a copy of the promissory note to refer to the terms and conditions of the scholarship. Scholars are selected on the basis of qualities that would indicate their potential to become good teachers. These qualities include writing ability, communication skills, overall academic performance, and evidence of commitment to the youth of America, preferably demonstrated through volunteer activities.
Special consideration is given to community college graduates.
Scholarship Awards
The annual amount of the Minority Teacher Education Scholarship is $4,000.
Awards are only disbursed during the Fall and Spring semesters, in the amount of $2,000 per semester. Students may be eligible to receive the scholarship for up to two consecutive years.
Symposiums
The Florida Fund for Minority Teachers, Inc. hosts an Annual Teacher Recruitment and Retention Symposium. Scholars, community college students, board members, school district representatives, and institutional contacts attend the conference each year. Conference sessions and workshops provide participants with professional development and networking skills. Community college students are invited to attend the conference to learn more about the advantages of entering the teaching profession. District recruiters from across the state use the conference as a recruiting venue.
The symposium is mandatory for all students who receive the MTES.
Conditions
Students receiving the scholarship must attend the Annual Teacher Recruitment and Retention Symposiums and maintain satisfactory academic progress. The recipient's institution determines satisfactory academic progress, however for the MTES, recipients must maintain at least a 2.5 grade point average and maintain full time enrollment. Upon graduation, recipients are required to teach one year in a Florida public school for each year they received the scholarship. If recipients do not graduate within 2-3 years, or if recipients do not teach in a Florida public school, they will be required to repay the total amount of the scholarship received at an annual interest rate of eight percent (8%).
Institutions
Participating colleges and universities have been selected on the basis of overall quality of the institution's teacher education program, its record of commitment to the education of minorities, and its stated goals to improve teaching in Florida's public schools.
Applicants should contact the primary contact at the participating institution for additional information on the MTES.
Deadline
For Fall Semester: July 1st
For Spring Semester: November 1st
Before you continue to the "Apply Now" link below, please read the statements below to be sure that you qualify. If you cannot say yes to each, then you will not qualify for the MTES and you should not continue to the application. If you have questions about these statements, please contact your Primary Contact. If you cannot reach your contact, please contact FFMT at (352) 392-9196.
- I am a resident of the State of Florida.
- I am a member of one of the following racial groups: African American/Black, Hispanic/Latino, Asian American/Pacific Islander, or American Indian/Alaskan Native.
- I am admitted/newly-admitted into a teacher education program at any of FFMT's participating universities/colleges.
- I am a junior at one of FFMT's participating universities/colleges.
- I have earned at least 60 credit hours or an AA degree.
- I have not exceeded 18 hours of upper division education courses.
Essay Topic
Discuss how your life experiences have impacted you to go into the field of education. (100 - 300 words)