Department of Education Recognized Student Winners During the Florida Future Educators of America State Conference
Monday, February 9, 2015
DOE Press Office
850-245-0413
Department of Education Recognized Student Winners During the Florida Future Educators of America State Conference
Tallahassee, Fla., February 9, 2015 – During the 2015 Florida Future Educators of America (FFEA) State Conference this past weekend, 500 high school and college students participated in workshops and competitions geared to prepare them for careers as K-12 educators.
Attendees participated in five categories: Speech Competition, Essay Competition, Chapter Display Competition, Chapter Public Service Announcement Competition and the Chapter Spirit Award. The conference was themed “Teachers Make the Impossible Possible” and was held in Orlando, February 6 – 8.
“Teachers lay the foundation for student success in the classroom and are critical to helping students succeed in their careers,” said Education Commissioner Pam Stewart. “As an educator, I understand how fulfilling a teaching career can be, and I am pleased that so many Florida students aspire to become educators and make a difference in the lives of the next generation. The experience gained through this program will set these future leaders on a path to success.”
The FFEA provides pre-collegiate and collegiate members the opportunity to pursue their interest in the field of education through trainings, conferences and hands-on learning activities.
The FFEA State Conference gathers teachers, students and advisors to attend thought-provoking workshops and listen to education experts to help spur interest in the teaching profession. Approximately 500 student members and advisors attended and 21 Florida colleges participated in College Night.
Additionally, student members participated in individual and group competitions. First place winners of these awards for each category are listed below.
- Speech Competition High School Division: Samantha Hurley, Space Coast Junior/Senior High School, Brevard County School District
- Speech Competition Postsecondary Division: Rachel Cain Burrage, College of Central Florida, Marion County
- Essay Competition High School Division: Steven Mantega, Bayside High School, Brevard County School District
- Essay Competition Postsecondary Division: Cassie Willis, Chipola College, Jackson County
- Chapter Display Award High School Division: Ridge Career Center, Polk County School District
- Chapter Display Award Postsecondary Division: University of Central Florida – Cocoa Campus, Brevard County
- Chapter PSA Competition High School Division: St. Augustine High School, St. Johns County School District
- Chapter PSA Competition Postsecondary Division: Miami Dade College – North Campus, Miami-Dade County
The 2015 – 2016 FFEA State Officers were elected and announced at the State Conference. The newly elected officials are:
- President: Lauren Kerness, Edgewood Junior Senior High School, Brevard County School District
- Vice President: Julia Calandra, Osceola Fundamental High School, Pinellas County School District
- Secretary: Brianna Gill, Naples High School, Collier County School District
The FFEA program, a Florida Department of Education initiative, began in 1986 to provide assistance to schools in forming chapters to recruit pre-collegiate and collegiate future instructors. There are currently 263 registered chapters of FFEA. The 2015 FFEA State Conference was sponsored by the Florida State University, College of Education; University of South Florida, College of Education; Bethune-Cookman University; Nova Southeastern University, School of Education; University of Miami, School of Education & Human Development; Teacher-Teachers.com; and University of Central Florida, College of Education and Human Performance. For more information, visit http://www.fldoe.org/teaching/recognition-recruitment/fl-future-educators-of-america/.
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