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Students at Lakeland High meet with visiting faculty from Florida Southern College as part of the Educator Academy partnership. | Florida Southern College
Polk County, like much of Florida, faces a critical teacher shortage. Polk County Public Schools and Florida Southern College have teamed up to launch a possible solution: a first-of-its-kind program in Polk County giving Lakeland High School students an early, hands-on path into the teaching profession, called the Educator Academy.
The inaugural class of 55 students — mostly freshmen — are earning college credits, shadowing real classrooms, and gaining teaching experience long before graduation.
“Our goal is simple,” said Superintendent Fred Heid. “We want to grow our own future educators right here in Polk County.”
Only 33.2% of Polk residents have a post-secondary degree — below the state average.
47% of households are ALICE (Asset-Limited, Income-Constrained, Employed).
A profound teacher shortage, fueled by workforce turnover and recruitment, is listed among Polk’s top barriers to student success.
“If we can help students see the impact they can have as teachers — and support them from the very start — we’ll be taking meaningful steps toward addressing the teacher shortage in a lasting way,” Heid said.
Dr. Tracey Tedder, Florida Southern’s provost, said the program “directly aligns with our mission to make a positive and consequential impact on society.”
Homegrown impact
The program is what Dr. Tedder calls a “closed circle.” Students start their journey in Polk County and stay there to teach and grow their career after graduation.
“Polk County does conditional contracts with our interns,” Tedder said. “Before they graduate, they can sign a contract guaranteeing a job with the district. We’ve closed the circle — from high school to college, back into the career of education in Polk County.”
The collaboration not only helps retain local talent but also builds long-term community stability, aligning with UNCA’s goals to expand post-secondary access and workforce readiness.
“It’s a great example of what can happen when K-12 and higher education come together with a shared mission: building a stronger, smarter future for Polk County,” Heid said.
Growing local educators
The Educator Academy blends career and technical education (CTE) with dual enrollment, allowing students to earn up to five college-level education credits by the time they graduate from high school.
The program runs on a three-week rotation:
FSC professors teach on Lakeland High’s campus.
Students take a 5-minute walk to attend college classes at FSC.
Students assist at Roberts Academy and other Polk County schools, learning from teachers who specialize in literacy and learning differences.
“Partnerships like this are key,” said Heid. “Working hand-in-hand with Florida Southern allows us to blend high school and college experiences in a way that truly prepares students for success.”
Students can also join Future Educators of America (FEA) — attending conferences, writing lesson plans with FSC mentors — turning theory into practice.
“It’s another strong partnership that helps students see themselves as future teachers,” said Dr. Lori Rakes, dean of education.
Leaders from Polk County Public Schools and Florida Southern College celebrate the launch of the new Educator Academy at Lakeland High School. | Florida Southern College
Looking to the future
Enthusiasm for the program has been strong — and district leaders are looking ahead.
“We’re already exploring ways to expand this model to other schools, so even more students can explore education as a career path,” Heid said.
Tedder and Rakes said their goal is to keep students local and to create a true pipeline from Polk high schools to Florida Southern College. “We hope to deliver them right back to Polk County Schools as great educators,” Rakes said. “It’s a win-win for everyone.”
The Educator Academy marks a full-circle investment — in teachers, in students, and in Polk County’s future.
“It opens students’ eyes. One told us, ‘I can see myself going to college now.’ That’s what we want — to help them see themselves in this profession,” said Rakes.
Insight Polk examines community conditions and solutions in six target areas from UCIndicators.org: economic & employment opportunity, education, housing, food security, transportation & infrastructure, and quality of life.
LkldNow’s Insight Polk independent reporting is made possible by the United Community Indicators Project with funding by GiveWell Community Foundation & United Way of Central Florida. All editorial decisions are made by LkldNow.
Kayla Borg is a Lakeland native and graduate of Western Carolina University, where she earned her degree in English and film production. She began her media career in Atlanta at CNN, quickly rising from production assistant editor to technical director/editor, leading live broadcasts alongside field reporters. Since then, she’s worked in education, instructional design and independent filmmaking.
