Florida State University announced on Apr. 1 that the William R. Kenan Jr. Charitable Trust has awarded a $500,000 grant to two faculty members in the Anne Spencer Daves College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences. The funding will be used to train future professionals who work with individuals with autism.
The grant aims to address the growing need for qualified educators by providing competitive scholarships that fully cover costs for teachers pursuing the Autism Spectrum Disorder Graduate Certificate at FSU’s Anne’s College. Over the next three years, this initiative will support 75 in-service teachers.
Veronica Fleury, associate professor in special education at Anne’s College, said access to this curriculum is essential for educators today. “It is currently estimated that 1 in 31 children are identified with autism,” Fleury said. “This means all teachers, regardless of grade level or educational setting, will have students with autism in their classes. Educators who complete this program will be better equipped to support the varied needs of their learners, specifically the growing autistic student population.”
Addie McConomy, clinical assistant professor and program leader for special education at Anne’s College, explained how this funding supports efforts to strengthen Florida’s teacher workforce: “Any plan to strengthen the Florida teacher pipeline must involve concerted efforts to retain teachers who enter the field,” said McConomy. “A key factor in retention lies in professional preparation. Funding from the Kenan Trust Foundation will allow us to provide teachers access to high-quality coursework in teacher education.” McConomy and Fleury emphasized that well-prepared teachers are more likely both to succeed and remain in their roles.
Teachers interested in applying for these scholarships can find an online application on the Autism Spectrum Disorder Graduate Certificate website. All current teachers are eligible; however, priority consideration will be given to those holding a temporary license.
