UI&U's Florida Academic Center Hosts Info Session for Public School Employees

Info sessions are designed to help non-licensed Miami-Dade and Broward County
employees improve their credentials to become teachers

NORTH MIAMI BEACH, FL – Union Institute & University (UI&U), a private, non-profit university located in North Miami Beach will host two upcoming information sessions for non-licensed school employees seeking transition into the teaching profession. The sessions, March 15 and 16, will be held at UI&U’s North Miami Beach Academic Center located at 16853 N.E. 2nd Ave, Suite 102.

The sessions come during a time of proposed cuts in education by newly elected Florida Governor Rick Scott that will affect many public school employees. “These proposed cuts may have a significant impact on non-instructional staff in particular, who are mostly non-degreed employees of the school system,” said UI&U professor Frank Scala who serves as chair of center’s education programs and will conduct the second information session. “In times such as these, earning a degree and pursuing a teaching position will be to their benefit.”

The first information session, Education Insights 2011: Educating in an Evolving World, moderated by Dr. Thomas Frederick, will begin at 11 a.m., March 15. In this session, Dr. Frederick, who serves as principal of North Glades Elementary School in Miami, and as faculty advisor for UI&U, will explain why now is the time for school employees to upgrade from non-instructional to instructional status in the Miami-Dade and Broward County School districts.

The second information session, Balancing Your Budget: Funding Your College Education in a Difficult Economy, led by Scala, who has served as superintendent of schools and principal in Kingston, New Hampshire, will be held at 11 a.m. March 16. In this session, participants will learn about various financial aid options available to fund their college education. In addition, a UI&U learner services coordinator will be available to answer questions.

Both sessions are free and open to the public. For more information about the sessions, contact Francis Francois, director of admissions, at francis.francois@myunion.edu, or Frank Scala at frank.scala@myunion.edu, or call 305-653-7141.