MULBERRY, Fla. — Nearly 200,000 migrant and seasonal farmworkers travel to Florida for work.

In an effort to address the challenges faced by migrant and seasonal farmworker children, RCMA (Redlands Christian Migrant Association) in Mulberry is set to open a new Migrant Farmworker Charter School.


What You Need To Know

  • RCMA in Mulberry is opening a Migrant Farmworker Charter school to break any challenges children may face
  • The new school will open for K-8th graders and help up to 160 children
  • The school will also follow a Dual-language model to enhance their Spanish and English skills
  • Aracely Rendon Morales is the daughter of farmworkers and will give back to RCMA by becoming a teacher at the school in the future

The school aims to provide support and education to these children who often struggle with transitions due to their families' work demands.

With an anticipated enrollment of up to 160 children, the school will cater to students from kindergarten through 8th grade.

Aracely Rendon Morales knows firsthand the challenges these children go through, as she started working when she was just 12 years old.

"Working in the fields was very hard," Morales said. "The sun was really hot, and sometimes I couldn't continue working."

Moving around a lot and having to start over again made it difficult for Morales to do well in school.

She admits, "There were times when I wanted to quit, but I knew I had to help my parents in some way."

Morales' determination paid off, and now she is studying education at Michigan State University and her success has also inspired her five siblings to pursue their dreams.

RCMA, a non-profit organization, has been helping farmworker families like Morales'. Their new Migrant Farmworker Charter School in Mulberry, which will be their third location.

Dani Higgins, the Principal of Mulberry Community Academy, says the school will meet the needs of the children so they can succeed.

To accommodate the new school, RCMA's current building will be renovated. The school plans to open its doors in August.

The focus will be on creating a supportive environment for the students. The school will have classrooms for students from kindergarten to 8th grade and will continue to teach in both Spanish and English.

“It builds on the strength of our students that many come in already speaking Spanish, and instead of looking at it as a weakness it builds it as a strength,” said Higgins.

Morales wants to continue her involvement with RCMA and hopes to become a teacher at the new school. She says, "I want to give back and be a mentor to the kids."

If you are interested in teaching at the Migrant Farmworker Charter School in Mulberry, RCMA is currently looking for teachers to join their team.