SJRCC PRESS RELEASE November 2006 SJRCC Educator Preparation Institute Prepares Professionals for a Teaching Career Palatka resident Jackie Bodiford had planned on entering a teaching career 18 years ago, but family and work obligations interfered with her education. She never let that dream fade though, and today she is an ESE teacher at River Breeze Elementary. Bodiford said St. Johns River Community College's Educator Preparation Institute (EPI) made fulfilling that goal within her reach. "You have to want to do this job. It is the hardest and most rewarding job," said Bodiford, adding that you have to be ready to get dirty, too, because of all the classroom projects and playtime. Bodiford has nine students in her class who are a mix of first, second and third graders. Verlene Bennett, River Breeze Elementary School Principal, said that Bodiford has a calm and reassuring way about her that allows the children to feel safe and open to learning in the classroom. "She has a contagious smile and a warmth and kindness that invite the children to her immediately," she said. "Her nature is so much like a mother, but she is successfully teaching the children all the while." SJRCC's new Alternative Teacher Certification Program, which is part of the EPI program, is designed to streamline the process for obtaining a Florida Professional Teaching Certificate. After completing the seven courses that make-up the EPI program, passing the three parts of the Florida Teacher Certification Exam, and submitting the required paperwork to the Florida Department of Education, participants will be awarded a Florida Professional Teaching Certificate. No other coursework is required, and the program can be completed in less than a year. Bodiford, who has a bachelor's degree in Marketing, said the EPI program provided a schedule that was a good fit for her life. SJRCC offers the EPI courses online or on-campus in the evenings at SJRCC's Palatka, Orange Park, and St. Augustine campuses. Bodiford will complete the EPI program in December and until then is teaching under a temporary teaching certificate that allowed her to begin teaching at River Breeze in August. After completing the coursework in December and passing the Florida Teacher Certification Exam, Bodiford will receive her Professional Teaching Certificate from the Florida Department of Education. Bodiford said she found the EPI classes on classroom management to be the most helpful, and she said that EPI Instructor Susan Smith's classroom experience was invaluable. Smith, she said, even came to Bodiford's classroom to help demonstrate games and other learning lessons. Also, Bodiford said that Mrs. Bennett, the staff and other teachers at River Breeze have made her transition into teaching much smoother. "Mrs. Bennett has been so helpful and supportive. Without her help, belief in me and support to the class, the transition would not have been so great,Ó she said. "Also, help and support from all the school staff and teachers has been wonderful." Bodiford said that her teaching assistant, Brenda Burch, also makes a wonderful partner in the classroom. "She is very capable, very cooperative, caring, loving, and she helps me so much with classroom management." Bodiford, who was working as an Administrative Assistant in Payroll at SJRCC prior to accepting the teaching position, said she is still adjusting to the classroom environment. However, she said that she thinks her business, technology and customer service skills have been useful in her new job. Her real-world work and family experiences have translated well into her new career as an educator. "All of these children are like siblings in the classroom. They all know each other well," she said. "We try to teach them how to get along, and we try to create a positive family atmosphere." In order to participate in the EPI program, applicants must have earned a Bachelors degree from a regionally accredited college or university and possess the disposition suitable for becoming a teacher. The Director of SJRCC's EPI Program will be holding informational orientations at each of SJRCC's campuses to provide potential teachers with more information about the program on the following dates: For more information on SJRCC's EPI program, please call (386) 312-4242 or email opencampus@sjrcc.edu PHOTO CAPTION: Jackie Bodiford explains the day's lesson to student Kenny Early. Return to SJRCC Home page.