2019 News Stories

Education in Action Luncheon

Education in Action Luncheon 2019

The University of South Florida College of Education Presents:

Education in Action: Transforming the Teaching Profession

Date: Wednesday, November 20, 2019
Time: 12:00 - 1:30 p.m. (doors open at 11:30 a.m.)
Location: Florida State Fairgrounds

Join us as we explore the state of the teaching profession within Florida’s public schools and discuss innovative solutions the USF College of Education is launching to prepare the next generation of quality educators.


Featuring Keynote Speaker:

Paul Burns headshot

Dr. Paul Burns
Deputy Chancellor for Educator Quality at the Florida Department of Education

Dr. Paul O. Burns earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Arkansas and his doctorate in Educational Leadership from Saint Louis University where his research focused on teacher turnover in the state of Florida.

Before beginning his teaching career, Dr. Burns lived and studied in France focusing on second language acquisition. Upon returning to the United States, he began his teaching career as a French teacher in Missouri. He served in numerous school leadership roles in Missouri before moving to Florida in 2014, when he joined the Sarasota County School district as a school leader.

In January 2018, Dr. Burns joined the Florida Department of Education as the Deputy Chancellor for Educator Quality. In this role, he oversees the Bureaus of Educator Certification; Recruitment, Development and Retention; Standards and Instructional Support; the Just Read, Florida! Office; and, Professional Practices Services.His work focuses on improving student learning by ensuring that every Florida teacher and leader is prepared, developed, supported and supervised by educators who strive to enhance and improve the teaching profession.


For ticketing information and to RSVP, please contact Tracee Norris at (813) 974-0363 or by email at norrist@usf.edu.


Thank you to our event sponsors

Premier Sponsor


Platinum Sponsor


Directions to the Florida State Fairgrounds

Please enter the Florida State Fairgrounds through the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK) Blvd. entrance.

Florida State Fairgrounds Map
From the USF Tampa Campus:
Take I-75 South to exit 260B (SR 574, MLK Blvd exit). Drive west (right) 2 miles and cross the US 301 intersection. The entrance to the Fairgrounds will be on the right. We will have someone at the Fairgrounds entrance to greet you and provide directions to the event venue.

From Tampa:
Take I-4 East to exit 5 (MLK Blvd.). Head east (right) approximately 2 miles. The entrance to the Fairgrounds is on the left.

From St. Petersburg/Clearwater:
Take I-275 North to I-4 East. Take exit 5 to MLK Blvd. Head east (right) 2 miles. The entrance to the Fairgrounds is on the left.

From Sarasota:
Take I-75 North to exit 260B (SR 574/MLK Blvd.). Head West (left) 2 miles, past US 301. The entrance to the Fairgrounds is on the right. 

From Orlando:
Take I-4 West to exit 5 (MLK Blvd.). Head West (left) 0.5 miles. The entrance to the Fairgrounds is on the left.