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Written by Genevieve Bowen on March 18, 2026
As the spring semester gets underway, Achieve Miami’s Teacher Accelerator Program is expanding to Broward College and Barry University, widening its reach as it works to place more trained educators into classrooms across South Florida.
The latest expansion adds new pathways into the profession at a time schools continue to face persistent staffing shortages, while also extending the program’s footprint beyond Miami-Dade County. With these new partnerships, the initiative is positioning itself as a regional pipeline for teachers entering public, private and charter school classrooms.
Launched in 2023 at the University of Miami, the Teacher Accelerator Program, or TAP, was designed to fast-track college seniors and career changers into teaching roles through an accelerated training model. In just three years, the program has grown from a single-campus pilot into a network spanning five higher education institutions, training more than 500 educators to date and becoming one of the largest providers of new teachers in South Florida.
The expansion builds on TAP’s existing partnerships with Florida International University and Miami Dade College, marking the program’s first formal step into Broward County and reflecting its broader goal of strengthening the educator workforce across the region.
The announcement follows a milestone year for the program. In July 2025, TAP graduated 210 teachers who were placed in classrooms across South Florida for the 2025-26 school year, including in Miami- Dade County Public Schools. The cohort included recent college graduates, mid-career professionals and former substitute teachers, many of whom transitioned into full-time roles through the program’s partnership with Kelly Education.
“Too many talented people want to teach but feel overwhelmed by the process and are unsure where to start,” said Leslie Miller Saiontz, founder of Achieve Miami. “By expanding TAP to Broward College and Barry University, we are opening the door wider for future educators while helping schools access passionate, well-prepared teachers when they need them most.”
TAP participants complete a one-semester course followed by a six-week paid internship, gaining classroom experience and mentorship before securing full-time teaching positions. The program focuses on preparing what leaders describe as “strong starters,” educators equipped to lead classrooms from day one across a range of school settings.
The expansion comes as teacher vacancies remain a challenge statewide. According to the Florida Education Association, more than 2,200 teaching positions remain open across Florida, though vacancies in Miami-Dade have declined by more than 20% over the past year, a shift program leaders attribute in part to TAP’s growing pipeline of qualified candidates.
Program leaders say the model’s rapid growth reflects both the urgency of the teacher shortage and the demand for alternative pathways into the profession. By streamlining certification and providing hands-on training, TAP continues to attract a diverse pool of candidates, from undergraduate students nearing graduation to professionals seeking a career change.
With applications already underway for upcoming cohorts, the program is expected to continue expanding its reach, with leaders focused on scaling its impact while maintaining support for new teachers entering the classroom.