Florida Master Teacher Initiative (FMTI)

The Florida Master Teacher Initiative (FMTI) is a collaborative professional development effort of Miami-Dade County Public Schools, the University of Florida (UF), and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation aimed at improving early learning instruction for high-need preschool through grade 3 students in Miami-Dade County Public Schools. The initiative serves Title I elementary schools with prekindergarten programs through four main components: (1) a job-embedded graduate degree program with early childhood specialization (ECTLSI) offered through UF combining online instruction, face-to-face pedagogy, and professor-in-residence support over 2.5 years (39 credit hours); (2) a Teacher Fellows program where teachers engage in yearlong inquiry projects with peers, meeting formally about once a month over six sessions and presenting at an annual districtwide Learning Showcase; (3) a Principal Fellows program providing professional development meetings (4 per year) and annual statewide institutes to build leadership skills; and (4) Summer Leadership Institutes where school leadership teams analyze data and develop school action plans. Program enhancements added in later years include an Assistant Principal Professional Learning Community, a post-baccalaureate program (non-degree-bearing, four-course version of ECTLSI), and Transition to Kindergarten Professional Learning Communities. Teachers in the ECTLSI program receive training in facilitating professional learning communities and are expected to take on school-based leadership opportunities. The program requires GRE scores and 3.0 undergraduate GPA for graduate program admission, with preparation materials and test prep courses provided at no cost to candidates.