USF College of Education and CORE Construction host inaugural GYOTL Academy Golf Tournament

• October 3, 2024
• College of Education News, Community Engagement

The inaugural CORE Construction Grow Your Own Teacher Leader Academy Golf Tournament teed off at the Founders Club in Sarasota on Sept. 30, in support of a USF College of Education program at the Sarasota-Manatee campus that prepares teachers in the School District of Manatee County to take leadership roles at their schools.

The GYOTL Academy, a four-semester, 12-credit-hour graduate certificate program, provides unique opportunities for participating teachers to collaborate on class projects that address real challenges on their campuses. The program will equip teachers with the necessary skills and knowledge to become impactful school and community leaders. Teachers who complete the program, which started this semester with 15 students who teach in one of five Manatee County elementary schools, earn a graduate certificate that can be applied toward a master's degree from USF.

CORE Construction, the construction manager for USF Sarasota-Manatee's Campus Student Center and Atala Residence Hall, funded the first two semesters of the inaugural Manatee County GYOTL cohort and invited their construction industry partners to the tournament to further support the program. The event was a success, thanks to the support of 69 golfers, including school district and Manatee County government officials, and 29 sponsors.

"The Grow Your Own Teacher Leader Program will make a meaningful and direct impact on the lives of students who attend five Title 1 elementary schools in the School District of Manatee County," said Cheryl Ellerbrock, Sarasota-Manatee campus dean for the College of Education "By connecting our talented College of Education faculty with 15 exemplary elementary teachers, together they investigate ways to support student learning through leadership, professional development, coaching, and teacher research.

"This is just one way we are partnering together with our community businesses, such as CORE Construction and their amazing industry partners, to uplift our community and retain our teachers," Ellerbrock said. "Together, USF the College of Education, the School District of Manatee County and our very giving community partners strive to make a difference in the lives of teachers and students in our community."