Minority Teacher Education Scholarship

The Minority Teacher Education Scholarship (MTES) program was created to be Florida’s Answer to Diversity in Teaching. For over 20 years, the Florida Fund for Minority Teachers, Inc. has answered the call and continues to provide the great state of Florida with high quality, highly qualified minority teachers. FFMT is governed by a Governor appointed Board of Directors from institutions of higher education and various industries throughout the state.

Before you continue to the "Apply Now" link online, please read the statements below to be sure that you qualify.  If you cannot say yes to each, then you will not qualify for the MTES and you should not continue with the application.  If you have questions about these statements, please contact your Primary Contact.

• I am a resident of the State of Florida.
• I am a member of one of the following racial groups: African American/Black, Hispanic/Latino, Asian American/Pacific Islander, or American Indian/Alaskan Native.
• I am admitted/newly admitted into a state-approved teacher education program at any of FFMT's participating universities/colleges.
• I am a junior, senior, or graduate student at one of FFMT's participating universities/colleges.
• I have earned at least 60 credit hours or an AA degree.
• I have not earned a baccalaureate degree in Education.
• I have not exceeded 18 credit hours of upper-division education courses.

Essay Topic

How has the educational landscape changed over the past 5 years? (100-300 words)

Eligibility

Individuals who are selected for the MTES must:

• Be a resident of the State of Florida.
• Be a member of one of the following racial groups: African American/Black, Hispanic/Latino, Asian American/Pacific Islander, or American Indian/Alaskan Native.
• Be admitted into a state-approved teacher education program at any of FFMT's participating universities/colleges.
• Be a junior, senior, or graduate student and have not earned a baccalaureate degree in Education. You may have earned a baccalaureate degree in a field outside of Education. A graduate student must be enrolled in a program that leads to initial teacher certification.
• Have earned 60 credit hours or an AA degree.
• Have not exceeded 18 credit hours of upper-division education courses.

Selection

Each participating institution appoints a screening committee to review each application. The committee nominates candidates to FFMT’s administrative office, which announces its final selection each semester. Each new scholar will receive a congratulatory letter and a promissory note that must be signed and returned within 30 days of receipt. Scholars must keep a copy of the promissory note to refer to the terms and conditions of the scholarship. Scholars are selected on the basis of qualities that would indicate their potential to become good teachers. These qualities include writing ability, communication skills, overall academic performance, and evidence of commitment to the youth of America, preferably demonstrated through volunteer activities.

Special consideration is given to state/community college graduates.

Scholarship Awards

The annual amount of the Minority Teacher Education Scholarship is $4,000. Awards are only disbursed during the Fall and Spring semesters, in the amount of $2,000 per semester.

Conditions

Students receiving the scholarship must attend the Annual Teacher Recruitment and Professional Development Symposiums and maintain satisfactory academic progress. The recipient's institution determines satisfactory academic progress, however, for the MTES, recipients must maintain at least a 2.5 grade point average and maintain full-time enrollment. Upon graduation, recipients are required to teach one year in a Florida public school for each year they received the scholarship. If recipients do not graduate within 2-3 years, or if recipients do not teach in a Florida public school, they will be required to repay the total amount of the scholarship received at an annual interest rate of eight percent (8%).

Official transcripts must be sent from each institution that you have attended (including the current one). For example, if you attended Florida State College at Jacksonville (FSCJ) and transferred to the University of Central Florida (UCF), transcripts from both FSCJ and UCF should be sent to FFMT. Be sure to submit an official transcript from any postsecondary institution where you have earned college credit. Transcripts must be sent from the Registrar’s Office directly to FFMT. FFMT will not accept transcripts sent directly from applicants. They may be sent electronically or via USPS. Electronic transcripts must be sent to cwilliams@ffmt.org. Transcripts that will be mailed should be sent to FFMT, Inc. 1908 Stadium Road, Room 334 Yon Hall PO Box 112010 Gainesville, FL 32611.