2020 News Stories
USF partners with College Football Playoff Foundation to inspire student-athletes to ‘Go Teach’
TAMPA, Fla. (Sept. 17, 2020) — The University of South Florida (USF) College of Education and USF Athletics are proud to announce the launch of a new partnership with the College Football Playoff Foundation to motivate college student-athletes to enter teaching careers after graduation.
The Go Teach project, hosted by the College Football Playoff Foundation, aims to give athletic and academic departments a platform and the tools needed to assist with the recruitment of qualified student-athletes into the teaching profession. The USF College of Education and USF Athletics have joined the national initiative to encourage more USF student-athletes to consider a rewarding career in teaching.
“Teaching is more than providing children with subject knowledge. Teaching involves problem solving, teamwork, developing talents, encouraging initiative, and building self-esteem,” said Judith Ponticell, PhD, professor and interim dean of the USF College of Education. “Through the Go Teach project, student athletes have opportunity to build on skills gained through athletics and learn about using those skills to make an impact on children’s and society’s future as a teacher.”
USF Athletics is a long-time supporter of the CFP Foundation and its programs, including
Extra Yard for Teachers Week, an annual salute to teachers supported by the Foundation
and its partners. Through the Go Teach project, the USF College of Education and USF
Athletics will collaborate to provide student-athletes with information and resources
about how to become a certified teacher after graduation, while also providing advising,
mentorship and networking opportunities with current educators in the Tampa Bay area.
“Teachers play such a valuable and impactful role in our society in shaping and encouraging our future
leaders, thinkers and engaged citizens,” said USF Vice President of Athletics Michael
Kelly. “We are excited to partner with the USF College of Education to expose our
student-athletes to the tremendous impact a career in teaching can have and to encourage
our best and brightest to consider using their talents and experience to shape the
next generation.”
With teacher shortages in many different subject areas and communities across the country, students in college athletic programs offer a diverse pool of individuals who reflect the desired characteristics and skills to become great candidates for careers in education. The long-term goal for the project is to place 10,000 student-athletes into teaching careers over the next 10 years.
"We are delighted to add the University of South Florida to our list of schools participating in the Go Teach Project," said Britton Banowsky, College Football Playoff Foundation Executive Director. "This commitment from the athletic department and college of education to assist their student athletes in achieving education degrees or teaching certificates, will ensure that we begin to fulfill the need for strong diverse leaders in our classrooms."
For more information about the Go Teach project at USF, visit the College of Education's website.
About the USF College of Education:
The University of South Florida College of Education is a community of faculty, students,
and staff focused on transforming lives through the promotion of equity, social justice,
and improved outcomes for students and communities, particularly those that have been
underserved. With boundless energy and the collective power of our community, the
College of Education’s research, degree programs, and local and global partnerships
are focused on solving the most complex problems of a diverse society and on preparing
practitioners to be agents of change. Learn more at www.usf.edu/education.
About USF Athletics:
USF Athletics sponsors 19 varsity men's and women's teams that compete in 11 different
sports, 18 at the NCAA Division I level in the American Athletic Conference. The Bulls'
athletic program began in 1965 and is in its 54th season in 2019-20. Nearly 450 student-athletes
train and compete in the athletic district located on the east end of the campus in
Tampa, Fla. The Bulls have claimed 19 American Athletic Conference team titles since
joining the conference in 2013, and own 120 conference titles overall. Eleven USF
programs reached national postseason competition in the 2018-19 season and six were
ranked in the Top 25 nationally. The Bulls posted a combined annual grade-point average
over 3.0 for the fifth straight year in 2019-20 and have posted a program record 11
straight semesters with a combined GPA over 3.0. USF has had more than 300 student-athletes
earn their degree since 2016-17.
About the College Football Playoff (CFP) Foundation and Extra Yard for Teachers:
The CFP Foundation is the community engagement arm of the College Football Playoff,
supporting education across the country. The CFP Foundation’s primary cause platform,
Extra Yard for Teachers, is dedicated to elevating the teaching profession by inspiring
and empowering teachers in four focus areas: resources, recognition, recruitment and
professional development. The CFP Foundation utilizes multiple partnerships to execute
its initiatives and support positive educational outcomes. To learn more, visit cfp-foundation.org and follow Extra Yard for Teachers (@CFPExtraYard) on social media.