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Miami business leaders step up to take the teaching challenge

The Education Fund, a nonprofit organization that develops innovative programs for public schools in Miami-Dade County, is challenging business leaders to test their savvy and skill and teach an hour in a local public school.

The Education Fund’s Teach-A-Thon, presented by Wells Fargo, is all about understanding the job of a teacher and what is happening in our public school classrooms. The only way to really know about the job is to do it.

Who is stepping up to the teaching challenge? Wells Fargo, Assurant, Saponznik Insurance, and South Florida Business Journal are all in and they are helping The Education Fund recruit local business executives.

The Teach-A-Thon experience spans all grades, K-12, and all professions. Each volunteer or Teacher Champion selects the grade level, subject, and geographic area where they want to teach. Each volunteer is matched with a public school teacher who helps them prepare a lesson and teach a class.

By participating, the Teacher Champions learn what it is like to be a teacher.

The Education Fund’s goals are for each Teach-A-Thon volunteer to share their experience in the classroom, spread the word about why the community needs to better support our teachers, and raise needed funds for public school classrooms.

Already, many top executives have committed, including: Hector Ponte, Wells Fargo; Rachel Sapoznik, Sapoznik Insurance; Melanie Dickinson, South Florida Business Journal; Nick Tootle, Kaufman Rossin; Beth Bailey, Verizon; Ana Veiga Milton, Jose Milton Foundation; Zack Bush, Ball and Chain; Carlos Orta, Carnival Corporation; Penny Schaffer, Florida Blue; Jose Mallea,

Biscayne Bay Brewing Company; Phillis Oeters, Baptist Health South Florida; Ernest Modock, Ford Motor Company; Alan Alvarez, Miami Marlins; and 50 others.