EduGator Newsletter | August 28, 2024

Announcements

Free GRE Verbal Workshop

This workshop will take place on Tuesday & Thursday, September 17th and 19th, from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. each evening. An experienced English professor will walk students through tips and tactics to succeed on the exam, using practice test materials and sample questions. If you’d like to attend either or both of these free sessions, please email Dr. Martin Simpson at simpsonm@ufl.edu to say that you’d like to register. I’ll email you back to confirm that you’re registered, and let you know the room location.

International Honor Society in Education-Kappa Delta Pi

AWARE Ambassador Program Recruitment

Passionate about mental health? Apply to be a 2024-2025 AWARE Ambassador! AWARE Ambassadors help fight the stigma surrounding mental health by educating their fellow peers about available resources on campus and wellness tips. Students from all majors are welcomed and encouraged to apply to help shape mental health services that fit every student’s needs.

AWARE seeks to empower students with the skills necessary to better manage distresses such as stress, anxiety, and relationship issues through skill-based workshops and presentations. Ambassadors work with the CWC to offer presentations, tabling, as well as larger projects such as UFisAWARE and Gator-2-Gator peer counseling. It is a great opportunity to build leadership, personal, and public speaking skills while also being a part of a supportive and diverse team.

Applications are available at https://counseling.ufl.edu/outreach/aware/, open from July 1st and closing on Sunday, September 8th, at 11:59 PM. If you are interested and have any questions, please feel free to contact our Directors of Recruitment and Elections (Sarah Wutzler at sarahwutzler@ufl.edu and Gray Smith at smith.grace@ufl.edu).

Path to Purpose Fellowship

Path to Purpose is an advanced year-long leadership and positive change fellowship grounded in a community organizing model. Fellows receive training that highlights relationship building, personal development, capacity building, communication, and more. Fellows become connected to numerous community organizations and leaders in Gainesville and Alachua County and develop relationships to support long-term goals of positive community growth.

The fellowship aims to establish a tradition of community collaboration and positive change, inspiring students to meet specific community needs, beinnovative in approaching our shared future, and promote growth and personal development. Fellows learn about critical community engagement and organizing, collaborate with fellow cohort members and BCLS staff, and develop individual and intersectional cohort projects, creating tangible impactsthrough ongoing projects.

Work is self-directed and self-motivated, with individualized support and structure provided by the BCLS team. Please note, that this is not a competitive fellowship; it is a collaborative fellowship. The purpose is to develop your leadership through positive change and community involvement.

Time commitment varies each week, but we expect fellows to spend a minimum of 4–6 hours per week on Path to Purpose items. The variance is due to the self-directed work completed outside of the fellowship space.

The mandatory weekly meetings will occur throughout the semesters from 4:30-6 pm on Tuesdays. Outside of this space, you can expect to work within teams with other fellows; attend community events; work with a community partner; and contribute to initiatives that could address food insecurity, health, housing, education, capacity building, and more.

Dell Member Purchase Program–A discount initiative designed for UF students and employees. This recently introduced program will grant members the opportunity to avail themselves of the most favorable prices for Dell computers, along with occasional discount coupons.

Program details:

NEW 5% off stackable coupon available to members (exclusions may apply)
Best price guaranteed on consumer PCs from Dell
Free enrollment in Dell Rewards Loyalty Program: up to 3% back + Free Expedited Shipping
Active military and veteran’s discount

How to shop:

Members can shop 24/7 at: www.dell.com/UF
Members will need to verify their work/student email address to obtain the coupon
Enroll in Dell Rewards to receive up to 3% back on every purchase + Free Expedited Shipping
Apply coupon at checkout – coupon will stack on top of Dell.com offers (some exclusions may apply).
If members have any questions, please reach out to mpp.register@dell.com and include your Member ID: 42272435

Employment and Internship Opportunities

Barton Elementary School-English/Language Arts Teacher

MUST BE READING ENDORSED

FLDOE Certified English Language Arts Teacher (with Reading Endorsement)

We are looking for dedicated teachers who want to make a difference and have a profound impact on the lives of children. If this is you, please forward your letter of interest and resume to Ms. Ana Arce-Gonzalez Principal: mailto:ana.arce-gonzalez@palmbeachschools.org

If your qualifications meet our current hiring needs, you will be contacted for an interview.

Please visit our website for more information about our school: https://www.palmbeachschools.org/bartonelementary

CLICK HERE TO APPLY: https://www.palmbeachschools.org/careers

Discovery Key Elementary School

WE HAVE THE FOLLOWING POSITIONS AVAILABLE FOR IMMEDIATE HIRE

Instructional Positions

Second Grade Teacher
Third Grade Teacher
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Teacher

The Elementary Teacher is responsible for the instruction of designated content/course(s) in a classroom setting within an elementary school. He/she designs and implements appropriate instruction of content area(s)/course(s) assigned in accordance with state standards, district curriculum, and students’ needs. *A bachelor’s degree is required.

We are looking for dedicated individuals who want to make a difference and have a profound impact on the lives of children. If this is you, please forward your letter of interest and resume to Principal Julie Walker @ julie.walker@palmbeachschools.org.

If your qualifications meet our current hiring needs, you will be contacted for an interview. For more information about our school, please visit our website –https://www.palmbeachschools.org/discoverykeyelementary

Grassy Waters Elementary School

WE HAVE THE FOLLOWING POSITIONS AVAILABLE FOR IMMEDIATE HIRE

Instructional Positions

Kindergarten Teacher
Second Grade Teacher
Third Grade Teacher
Fifth Grade Teacher (3 positions)
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Teacher
Media Specialist

We are looking for dedicated individuals who want to make a difference and have a profound impact on the lives of children. If this is you, please visit our careers page at https://www.palmbeachschools.org/careers and apply directly to position #10023514 or forward your letter of interest and resume to Dewenia Higgins, administrative assistant to Principal Sean Higgins @ dewenia.higgins@palmbeachschools.org

Please visit our school’s website: https://gwes.palmbeachschools.org/ to learn more about our school.

If your qualifications meet our current hiring needs, you will be contacted for an interview.

ALL APPLICANTS MUST BE LEGALLY AUTHORIZED TO WORK IN THE UNITED STATES. THE SCHOOL DISTRICT DOES NOT PROVIDE SPONSORSHIP OR J1 VISAS TO CANDIDATES.

Clifford O. Taylor/Kirklane Elementary School

WE HAVE THE FOLLOWING POSITIONS AVAILABLE FOR IMMEDIATE HIRE

Instructional Positions

English Language Learner (ELL/ESOL)Teacher
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Teacher
Physical Education Teacher
Fifth Grade Teacher

We are looking for dedicated individuals who want to make a difference and have a profound impact on the lives of children. If this is you, please forward your letter of interest and resume to Maria Davis, Assistant to Mr. Orlando Mastrapa, Principal – maria.davis@palmbeachschools.org

Fall 2024 Active Learning Program

Are you an undergraduate looking for an internship or research position in the upcoming Fall 2024 semester and interested in developing your personal-professional skillsets? The Active Learning Program (ALP) is a 1-semester internship and research program that connects eager, well-trained undergraduate students with UF faculty and community mentors engaged in in-person, remote, and hybrid internship and research projects. Interested students apply to be enrolled in the in-person 3-credit Active Learning Program IDS4940 course where they earn mentored internship/research experience, develop their personal-professional strengths, and more!

The ALP course will run in-person this fall, and you can learn more about the different opportunities here: Current Projects and apply here: ALP Application.

We accept applications on a rolling basis, but we recommend applying as soon as possible. We look forward to reviewing your application and are especially looking to match people interested in these 18 opportunities: Bailey Learning and Arts Collective Community Outreach and Education (BLAAC2BASICS), Insightful Analysis Solutions, College Pass Internship, I Gotcha Back (IGB): Mentoring Program, InSciStemify Internship, Reading Pals, Spreading Awareness of Chagas Disease, Cultivating Rural-Urban Communities, Diaper Distribution Program, Music GNV, Pleasant Street Historical Society, Xtraordinary JOY! Masquerade Ball, Program for Resource Efficient Communities, Engaging Farmers in Climate-Smart Agriculture through Virtual Extension Programs, Cultivating Healthy Communities through Faith and Agriculture, Respect Me Project, The Economic Value of Water, and Vena Café.

Sonshine Day Preschool

Intern Assistant Learning Specialist- Hawkins Center

The Assistant Learning Specialist position is a time-limited internship (up to 2 years) intended to provide a practical, hands-on experience in the area of Learning Services Support for Student-Athletes while pursuing a graduate degree at University of Florida. The intern will: work with student-athletes with learning disabilities and ADD/ADHD; orient new student-athletes to the Disability Resource Center’s programs; assist in screening evaluations and referrals for assessment of learning disabilities; offer learning strategies; and refer students to appropriate campus resources.

The ALS Internship is 40 hours a week with a minimum wage hourly stipend as well as tuition reimbursement. Required qualifications are Bachelor’s degree in a related field of expertise such as but not limited to Education, Sport Management, Psychology or Counseling with a desire to become a full-time Learning Specialist.

Apply here: https://recruiting.ultipro.com/UNI1069/JobBoard/b79f8e87-0a19-9864-4adb-f19fc877c648/OpportunityDetail?opportunityId=aa276296-3923-44bd-a896-24e7cf94d214

City Year

City Year was founded in 1988 as a national service program to unite young adults from diverse backgrounds for a demanding year of full-time community service. City Year has grown from 50 corps members in Boston to more than 3,000 members serving in 29 US cities, as well as in South Africa and the UK.

National service helps young people develop into leaders, problem solvers and more active citizens. AmeriCorps and the Corporation for National and Community Service deploys more than three million Americans in service through its nationwide core programs and partnerships with nonprofits like City Year.

Apply here:https://www.cityyear.org/apply-now/

Academies of RCMA

Internship Opportunity with Energy Bus for Schools

We are looking for an intern to assist with our school activities curriculum! Currently, schools use an activity guide as they go through our program. Each year, we revamp the activity guides with new information, activities, and ideas for all our schools. This is not a design internship but an opportunity to be creative and research/develop activities that students would do based on our established Energy Bus principles.

For more information: http://www.EnergyBusForSchools.com

Service and Volunteer Opportunities

TEDxUF

We are currently looking for passionate students to join our TEDxUF team.

Our application closes September 5th and is open to all UF students (undergraduate and graduate level).

Application: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdsXqDbnFUSO69wliqBo3o-Okg9ay7T1s1WprpTWz3bqP8OIA/viewform

Some positions that may specifically interest College of Education students are Engagment Designer, Volunteer Coordinator, and Event Fundraiser. More information about what each position entails can be found on our application. Additionally, we are looking for an Engagement Director and Co-Partnership Director.

Emma Hayakawa | Executive Director
TEDxUF 2024 – 2025

execdirector@tedxuf.com | (904) 635-5228

Alachua County Crisis Center

The Alachua County Crisis Center provides free and confidential crisis response services to Gainesville and the surrounding community, almost all of which are provided by highly trained volunteers. Volunteering with the Crisis Center is a great way to support our community and those in need; while also learning valuable communication skills you can use for the rest of your life.

Training starts on Saturday, September 21st, and is over 60 hours over the course of eight weeks. Volunteers learn crisis intervention and suicide prevention skills, which prepares them to answer phones on the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (988) and our local crisis hotline. The training is free and is conducted entirely online. For more information about training, click here or see our attached flyer. If you can, please share this information with your organization!

If possible, we would love to come and speak with your organization about volunteering with the Alachua County Crisis Center. If that’s not possible, I would appreciate it if you could share this flyer and our email with your organization.

Training starts on Saturday, September 21st. The first step to getting involved in training is to submit the online application found here. If you or any members of your organization have questions about training, or if you would like to invite us to speak at a meeting, please let me know at (352) 264-6781 or ksosa@alachuacounty.us

UF Best Buddies

Balance 180 Gymnastics & Sports Academy

Balance 180 Gymnastics & Sports Academy, is a local non-profit organization that focuses on integrating children with and without special needs through sports. This fall, we have a very hands-on learning experience available for students interested in working with children. We are looking for highly motivated volunteers to participate in our Adaptive classes on Saturdays. Below is a brief description of the program. We will be conducting our first training session on August 29th and an additional on September 12th. Interested students should reach out to us @AGvolunteers@balance180.org, and we will follow up with next steps!

– – – – –

During our Adaptive Gymnastics Classes, we teach gymnasts with physical or intellectual disabilities foundational skills on the vault, bars, beam, and floor in a step-by-step, individualized process. Our volunteers work one-on-one with the athletes and help each athlete work at their own pace. Volunteers focus on helping the athletes improve motor skills and encourage them to follow instructions and make new friends. No gymnastics experience is required to be a great volunteer. The Adaptive Gymnastics volunteering will be held on most Saturdays from 12:35-2:30 PM.

Kids on Main Street

MentorGNV

We are excited to announce that applications for MentorGNV are open for the Fall 2024 semester!

MentorGNV is an organization that provides mentors – in the form of UF students just like you – for the students of Alachua County Public Schools. Our mentors volunteer in local elementary, middle, and high schools to serve as a source of ongoing support to their mentees – as tutors, as playmates, as advocates, as role models, as confidants – you name it! Mentors develop long-lasting bonds with their mentees to support them academically, socially, mentally, and emotionally as they navigate school and life. Through targeted mentorship, we strive to place mentors where their support is needed most in our community.

Our organization is open to all majors. Mentors volunteer at their assigned school each week for anywhere from thirty minutes to two hours. We work with your schedule and preferences to find you a mentoring placement that’s right for you. Our mentoring divisions are as follows: elementary 1-on-1, elementary group, middle school, high school, and science outreach. We invite you to visit the About Us page on our website to get a glimpse into what mentoring in each division looks like.

How do I get involved?

Fill out an application here: https://forms.gle/cVwVLztsVdBDpCJz5
Fill out an availability form here: https://forms.gle/wqZFMPPXGN7Tjb7Z6
Receive your acceptance email from us and follow the contained instructions.
Receive your placement email from us with your assigned school, shift time and day, and carpool assignment, if applicable.
Start mentoring!

Where can I find more information?

Check out our Instagram, @mentorgnv, and our website, mentorgnv.org, to stay informed and up-to-date.
Attend our interest social on Thursday, August 29th at 4:00 PM in Plaza of the Americas to learn more about us. Follow our Instagram for reminders about this event and more to come!
Contact us with any questions at mentorgnv@gmail.com.

Applications will close on Thursday, September 5th at 11:59 PM. Apply today to make a difference in the next generation!

Gainesville Thrives

Gainesville Thrives works to promote tutoring and mentoring for kindergarten through high school students, as well as other services for expectant parents, parents and their infants, toddlers, and preschool children. By informing the faith-based community and others of Gainesville’s needs and opportunities, we can achieve long-term academic success for students and stronger and healthier families.

You can join in our mission at Gainesville Thrives (www.gainesvillethrives.org) as the local partner of the Dolly Parton Imagination Library to provide age-appropriate books by mail to children from birth to four years old. We need volunteers to register families attending library story times, museum toddler activities, and community and church events. You can participate at a single activity or weekly outreach to improve literacy for underserved children in Alachua County and change their trajectory in life. Join our UF Student Chapter: https://www.gainesvillethrives.org/student-org or apply for an internship to learn how an educational nonprofit works.

ESOL Achievers

Gainesville-based non-profit organization aims to inspire high school students learning English as their second language to actively pursue their dreams through higher education
Mentoring and tutoring programs as well as other events crafted to suit their needs
We have created an interest form for those who want to join or are considering it: https://forms.gle/NrFiT9abe7Hy4QYz8
How to reach ESOL Achievers: Email: esolachieversuf@gmail.com /Instagram: @esolachievers/ Slack: https://join.slack.com/t/esolachieversatuf/shared_invite/zt-2a39o4ehz-c8DBcX9672RHPJrO2QMF5Q

Kids Count

Kids Count is a free afterschool program in East Gainesville that serves 70 elementary school students at 2 locations. Our goal is to empower our students by providing individualized literacy tutoring, homework assistance, and social emotional learning opportunities.
Seeking volunteers that are willing to commit at least 1 hour a week and have an interest in working with elementary age kids. We provide all training necessary!
Email: allysen@kidscountalachua.org
https://www.kidscountalachuacounty.org

Alachua County Council of PTAs Volunteer Opportunities

Are you looking for a fantastic opportunity to connect with local schools, gain hands-on experience, and align your coursework with practical insights? Look no further than the Alachua County Council of PTAs (ACCPTA)!
Why Volunteer with ACCPTA?
The mission of PTAs everywhere is to make every child’s potential a reality by engaging and empowering families and communities to advocate for all children.
By volunteering through ACCPTA, you can gain unparalleled insights into the education system, enabling you to apply what you learn in the classroom to real-life scenarios. If you aspire to work in education, non-profit, or related fields, volunteering with us will provide you with practical experience that can set you apart when pursuing future career opportunities. Many educational programs require volunteer hours as part of their curriculum. ACCPTA offers fulfilling volunteer roles with local school PTA units that can help you meet these requirements while making a meaningful impact.
Diverse Volunteer Opportunities:
We offer a wide range of volunteer positions that cater to your specific interests and the varying needs of our local schools. Whether you’re interested in fundraising, event planning, leadership roles, or general volunteer tasks, ACCPTA has a role for you and can connect you with a local school in need of your skills.
You can learn more about our organization here: About Us – Alachua County Council PTA (accpta.org)
If you are interested in volunteering, please contact legislation@accpta.org

Tutoring and Childcare

Private Tutor

Gainesville local family is offering an opportunity for students whose native language is English to assist a 16-year-old boy on the autism spectrum as a tutor in reading/writing, math, science, or other high school subjects. (Experience with K-12 or special education students is desirable but unnecessary.) The family is also looking for a student to help the boy with swimming, basketball, tennis, or other outdoor sports activities as a coach. Payment starts at $25/hour. If you are interested, please contact the boy’s mother, Cindy, by phone/text at 7273016344 or rita1399@hotmail.com.