HERNANDO COUNTY, Fla. — A new program is helping grow the teacher body throughout Hernando County Schools.

The school district has partnered with BloomBoard to launch its Associate Teacher Program. It’s offering paraprofessionals to earn their bachelor’s degrees in elementary education, all the while working — at no cost.

Candidates who qualify must have an associate’s degree or 60 college credits. Teachers qualify for benefits like health and life insurance, with beginning pay at $20 an hour.

Superintendent John Stratton calls the program a “win-win” for teachers and the district.

“The benefit is to end up with a paid-for, four-year degree in a beautiful profession with the end result being a professionally certified teacher that now works for our county,” said Stratton. “They commit a four-year period after that completion so it builds a longevity for us as well and then, most importantly, it builds our workforce and puts qualified, certified teachers in front of all of our students.”

Right now, there are between 150 and 200 instructional openings throughout the district. There have been about 65 applicants in the program so far.

This includes applicants who are getting ready for their first day of school.

For Sofia Villanueva, the beginning of the school year marks a special time. She does her back-to-school shopping, only this time as a teacher.

“I always found it a great opportunity to be able to empower students,” she said. “I want to be an elementary school teacher so that’s where I’m starting off in the program. I’m a first grade teacher.”

She’ll be working at Pine Grove Elementary School. It’s thanks in part to a new program within the Hernando County School District.

“The idea of the apprenticeship program is where you’re working and school is combined,” says Villanueva. “So everything you’re doing at your job is relevant to your schooling and it makes it so much easier rather than being in school full-time and working a full-time job where it always doesn’t correlate.”

Villanueva was one of the first people to sign up. The program will pay both as a job and for her bachelor’s degree.

“It was definitely super enticing for me when I first heard about it,” she says. “I was like, ‘Please tell me more!’ I think it’s a great opportunity for anyone who wants to get into the education field.”

Candidates agree to work for the school district for four years after becoming professionally certified — a prospect this soon-to-be teacher is also excited about.

“Being so close to your job is an underrated blessing.”

It’s helping her fulfill her dream and helping to fill the need for more teachers in the district.

“Being an inspiration to students and inspiring them to do what they want to do in their life. And being someone who brings them confidence gives them kind of the courage to achieve and reach their goals.”

It’s helping students achieve their goals while at the same time reaching her own.

There’s still time for those teachers who might be interested in the program to sign up. Learn more about the BloomBoard program and how to apply.