Navy Veteran ‘Overjoyed’ at New Florida Law Creating Pathway to Teach

PALM BEACH COUNTY (FLV) – Keith Squire was elated to receive a teaching certificate under a new Florida program that helps veterans more easily become teachers.

Squire has always been passionate about mentoring young people and thinks back to his parents who were always involved in their community. They inspired him to work with teens and begin substituting in schools and working as a behavioral intervention assistant in Palm Beach County.

“I need to be impactful and help develop the community and schools are the heart of the communities to me,” Squire said.

Squire had already planned to return to college so he could receive a teaching certificate. Back in August when he inquired about substituting in the county, he learned about a new Florida program that would make it easier for qualified veterans to receive a temporary teaching certificate while working to receive their degrees.

“So it was a blessing because it was what I wanted to do and I didn’t feel like I was able to,” Squire explained. “That’s why I was going for the substitute position just to still be involved in the classroom.”

Now that he is certified in physical education, Squire works as a PE teacher at Riviera Beach Preparatory and Achievement Academy.

“To find out that I had the requirements now for this program,” he said. “I was just, I was overjoyed. I felt so blessed.”

The new Florida law, unanimously passed by the state legislature, allows veterans without degrees to receive a temporary teaching certificate to help fill the teaching gap in classrooms. Qualified veterans can temporarily teach until they receive a college degree.

Criteria for veterans to receive a temporary certificate:

– Served four years in Military with honorable discharge
– At least 60 college credits
– 2.5 GPA
– Pass a subject area examination

As of Nov. 18, the Florida Department of Education said 500 veterans had applied to take advantage of the new program. There are veterans teaching through this program in school districts including Volusia, Clay, Brevard, Okaloosa, Citrus and Manatee counties.

Rep. John Snyder of Stuart was a co-sponsor of the new Florida law, which he said will also help fill the teacher shortage gaps in the state.

“Our veterans should get credit for some of the time that they’ve served honorably and picked up very valuable lessons and use that to just open up the door and become eligible to take the test,” Snyder said.

“They still have to get interviewed. They still have to get hired. We were just trying to, just like the bill says, expand these opportunities for veterans to use that valuable service and experience to pass that on to the next generation.”

And as a Navy Veteran, who served for five years, Squire believes his skills and experiences are helping students.

“I feel like the purpose of school is to prepare them to go out and live life and be successful, according to their own terms, but you know, learn how to provide for themselves, to manage themselves and their lifestyle and the experience from the military is a lot of what I bring to the table,” Squire said.

Even as the assistant basketball coach and PE teacher, Squire said he is constantly helping students with their homework and answering questions.

“Especially because of the school that I’m working at, it’s an at risk school. So I realized that a lot of the students, they just need a little bit more attention and that’s what I love to give,” he said. “And give knowledge and information because it definitely makes them feel better.”