Miami, May 20, 2024 – Miami Dade College (MDC) will sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Pace Center for Girls (Pace), a nationally recognized organization dedicated to empowering girls and young women and preparing them for a brighter future. The signing ceremony will take place at 9:30 a.m. at MDC Padrón Campus. Working media is welcome.
“This MOU solidifies a significant partnership between MDC’s School of Education and Pace Center for Girls, highlighting a shared commitment to elevate teacher quality and student achievement across Florida,” said MDC President Madeline Pumariega. “Through collaborative efforts, both institutions aim to create opportunities for current and aspiring educators through high-quality professional learning.”
The partnership will provide a proactive solution to the teacher shortage affecting the nation by creating a direct pipeline from MDC’s School of Education to teaching positions at Pace Center for Girls’ 21 centers, ensuring a steady flow of well-prepared educators across Florida. College-level credit courses will also be available for certificate renewal or academic endorsement, reflected on official transcripts.
“This partnership with MDC’s School of Education represents a commitment to recruit, develop and retain high-quality teachers. At Pace we have evidence that girls’ success highly correlates with a consistent, caring adult relationship, and that a teacher’s satisfaction depends on relationships not only with our girls but with other team members, leaders and a supportive community,” said Mary Marx, President and CEO of Pace Center for Girls. “By collaborating with MDC, we are ensuring that our educators are well-equipped to meet the unique needs of today’s youth, helping them to overcome challenges and achieve their full potential.”
Pace is recognized as one of the nation’s leading advocates for girls and has an evidence-based program model that has changed the life trajectory of more than 40,000 girls with a high number of risk factors and adverse childhood experiences across 25 communities in Florida, Georgia and South Carolina. In addition to the Pace team now having access to endorsement courses and courses aligned with state requirements for certification, this MOU will allow for a collaboration between MDC and Pace to co-create courses on how to best support students who have experienced trauma. This ensures that teacher candidates are well-prepared to support diverse student populations. Today’s youth face unprecedented levels of stress and trauma, making it essential for educators to be trained in trauma-informed and trauma-responsive practices.
WHAT: MDC and Pace Center for Girls MOU Signing
WHEN: Friday, May 24, 9:30 a.m. – 11 a.m.
WHERE: MDC Padrón Campus, 16th Floor, 627 S.W. 27th Ave.
About MDC’s School of Education
Miami Dade College’s School of Education (SOE) is a beacon of excellence in teacher preparation and professional learning, committed to fostering innovation and ensuring access to quality education. With personalized pathways, SOE equips educators with the knowledge, skills, and practical experience necessary for success in today’s classrooms. Guided by high-quality faculty and education experts, SOE prioritizes academic rigor and immersive experiential learning opportunities, while forging strategic partnerships to drive positive change in Miami-Dade County and beyond. By nurturing transformative leaders and fostering a culture of collaboration and lifelong learning, the SOE empowers educators to inspire and shape the future of education. Learn more at https://www.mdc.edu/education/about/.
About the Pace Center for Girls
Pace Center for Girls provides year-round safe and supportive academic and counseling programs to help girls understand their past and prepare for their future. Pace’s team of counselors and educators provide middle and high school academic services, counseling, life-skills training, career preparation and more, developing individualized approaches based on each girl’s unique strengths, life experiences and needs at no cost. Pace believes all girls, regardless of their story, deserve support on the road to becoming strong, compassionate and successful women. and when properly supported, all girls have the power to achieve their own vision of success, which leads to positive outcomes for themselves, their families and communities. For more information visit https://www.pacecenter.org/
For more information, please contact Sinai Otano at sotano@mdc.edu.