On Wednesday, Gov. Ron DeSantis handed out the first of nearly 177,000 Disaster Relief Payments of up to $1,000 to Florida’s educators in recognition of their efforts to educate students in the 2020-2021 school year.
The state was the first to reopen and ensure in-person instruction would be made available to parents five days a week.
“Considering how challenging the past year was for teachers, we knew it was important to recognize and reward them for their hard work,” said DeSantis. “Having great teachers makes a difference. Great teachers, great principals and great administrators lead directly to better outcomes for Florida’s students, and I was proud to join some great teachers at Lakewood Elementary today to hand them $1,000 bonuses.”
“Hands down, our students have directly benefited from the compassion and dedication of our heroic educators throughout the pandemic. Having a world-class teacher who unconditionally loves their students in the front of every classroom is the most effective way to meet the individual needs of students of every background,” said state Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran. “We have to remember that Florida has millions of highly vulnerable students and they have been the students most at risk the entirety of the time. Their success directly rests on the hearts and minds of our amazing teachers and leaders. Those students were, and still are, the ones in greatest need of in-person instruction as we begin the 2020-2021 school year.”
“Thanks to the leadership of Governor DeSantis, our educators will receive a welcome $1,000 recognition,” said state Senate President Wilton Simpson, R-Tribly. “Opening our schools last year was the right decision and teachers throughout the state were on the front lines of getting Florida’s education system back on track. I can’t thank them enough for their dedication and commitment to their students.”
“Today I stand with Governor DeSantis in our commitment to Florida educators to recognize their hard work and dedication to our students,” said state House Speaker Chris Sprowls, R-Palm Harbor. “I thank my colleagues in the House and Senate for supporting our vision to reward our educators for a job well done.”
Educators Eligible for Disaster Relief Funds
Full-time K-12 classroom teachers employed in a district or at a charter school as of June 2, 2021, or on the last day of school;
Certified prekindergarten teachers employed in a district or at a charter school as of June 2, 2021, or on the last day of school, and who are funded by the Florida Education Finance Plan (FEFP); and
Principals employed by a district or a charter school that serves PK-12 students as of June 2, 2021, or on the last day of school.
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