KIPP Miami will expand its school campuses while leveraging the College’s academic and professional resources for students and staff
Miami, Sept. 30, 2021 – Miami Dade College (MDC) and KIPP Miami, part of the national Knowledge is Power Program (KIPP) of public charter schools, have partnered to open two new schools at MDC’s North Campus, which will provide students and staff with pathways for educational advancement and professional development.
MDC and KIPP Miami will host a groundbreaking ceremony at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 7, at MDC North Campus’ southwest lawn, the site that will permanently house KIPP Royalty and KIPP Courage schools. Once completed, the new 120,000 sq-ft school building will include 79 classrooms, and serve over 1,400 students. Construction is expected to be completed by the end of July 2022 in preparation for the 2022-2023 school year.
“We are glad that the North Campus has developed an agreement with KIPP Miami to expand the educational opportunities in our community, said Fermin Vazquez, North Campus Interim President. “Now KIPP Miami students can benefit from all aspects of this partnership while being located at MDC’s North Campus, where it all started for MDC 62 years ago.”
Through this alliance, KIPP Royalty Academy and KIPP Courage Academy, which currently host more than 400 students grades K-2 and 5-8 on temporary classrooms located on the northwest side of MDC’s North Campus, will benefit from KIPP Miami’s Teacher in Residence Program, that provides aspiring educators with hands-on, real-world, practical exposure to the profession.
Teachers participating in this internship will enroll in a one-year study program at MDC to assist with the teacher certification process in the State of Florida. Students from MDC’s School of Education will be able to visit, observe, and intern at the KIPP schools to further expand their exposure to the classroom.
“We are thrilled to work alongside Miami Dade College in this new chapter for KIPP Miami, which will foster great advancement opportunities for students and staff,” said Brett Kimmel, Executive Director for KIPP Miami. “The College has been an indispensable partner, and this collaboration will help us continue offering an unmatched educational opportunity for students in Miami-Dade County while helping our teachers become world-class educators.”
WHAT: KIPP Miami Groundbreaking Ceremony
WHEN: Thursday, Oct. 7, at 10 a.m.
WHERE: MDC North Campus, southwest lawn, 11380 NW 27 Ave.
About KIPP Miami
KIPP Miami is part of the Knowledge is Power Program national nonprofit network of college-preparatory public charter schools educating elementary, middle, and high school students. KIPP has a 20-year track record of preparing students for success in college and life. Founded in 2018, KIPP Miami operates four nonprofit charter schools in Miami, providing an educational alternative to communities in Liberty City and Little West River. KIPP Miami is proud to partner with Miami-Dade County Public Schools, the Urban League’s We Rise Liberty City Initiative, Bayview Foundation, Bridge to Hope, Psych Solutions, and the Miami Marlins Foundation to bring additional education options to Miami. For more information visit: http://www.kippmiami.org.
About Miami Dade College
Miami Dade College is the most diverse institution in the nation. There are 167 nations and 63 languages represented in its student body. The college’s eight campuses and outreach centers offer more than 300 distinct degree pathways including associate and baccalaureate degrees, career certificates and apprenticeships. Baccalaureate degree offerings include biological sciences, engineering, data analytics, information systems technology, education, public safety, supervision and management, nursing, physician assistant studies, film and others. MDC is the recipient of many top national awards including the Aspen Prize. As Democracy’s College, MDC changes lives through accessible, high quality-teaching and learning experiences. It is the home of the Miami Culinary Institute, the Miami Animation & Gaming International Complex, the Miami Fashion Institute, the Eig-Watson School of Aviation, The Idea Center, the Cybersecurity Center of the Americas, the Cloud Computing Center, the Center for Learning, Innovation and Simulation, the School for Advanced Studies, and the New World School of the Arts, to name a few of its most innovative programs. MDC has been named among the nation’s “Great Colleges to Work For” since the program’s inception. The College embraces its responsibility to serve as an economic, cultural, and civic leader for the advancement of our diverse global community. Its alumni and employees contribute more than $3 billion annually to the local economy, and MDC graduates occupy top leadership positions in every major industry. MDC is renowned for its rich cultural programming. It is the home of the Miami Book Fair, Miami Film Festival, the National Historic Landmark Miami Freedom Tower, the Tower Theater, Dyer Building, Koubek Center Mansion and Gardens, Live Arts Miami at MDC, the Lynn and Louis Wolfson II Florida Moving Image Archives, the Museum of Art and Design, a sculpture park and a large campus art gallery and theater system. MDC has admitted more than 2.5 million students and counting, since it opened its doors in 1960. Approximately 120,000 students are currently enrolled. For more information, visit www.mdc.edu.
For more information, please contact Maria Cristina Chicuén at mchicuen@kivvit.com.