Educate Tomorrow Launches New Local and Statewide Programs
Educate Tomorrow Launches New Local and Statewide Programs led by
Veteran Employees Jasmine Moore and Dr. Steve J. Rios
January 22, 2024. Miami: Jasmine Moore and Steve J. Rios, two nationally-known higher education student services professionals, have new roles at Educate Tomorrow. Their new positions are associated with new programs recently launched by the 21-year-old non-profit organization, which operates throughout Florida and in Michigan. Mrs. Moore has been promoted from associate to senior Director of the Positive Pathways Program, a position previously held by Dr. Rios. Dr. Rios has been promoted to head of foster care and homeless education services, a newly-created position.
In her new role, Mrs. Moore will lead the Positive Pathways Program, a network of more than 350 professionals throughout Florida that work to ensure academic success among former foster youth and students experiencing housing security. Educate Tomorrow has administered Positive Pathways, since 2016 it was created by the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) in 2016. Jasmine received a B.S. in Sociology from Radford University and a M.S.Ed. in Higher Education Administration from Old Dominion University. Prior to joining Educate Tomorrow, Jasmine established and managed the Educate Tomorrow at FAU program from 2017 to 2020. In 2019, Jasmine’s work at FAU was recognized when she received the National Academic Advising Association (NACADA) Outstanding Advisor Award.
Pathways to Career and Technical Education Success Program
Mrs. Moore’s new responsibilities also include working with Dr. Rios to launch and establish a new Florida Department of Education (FLDOE) program called Pathways to Career and Technical Education (CTE) Success. Pathways to CTE Success is funded by the Florida Department of Education’s Division of Career and Adult Education with funding from the United States Department of Education Carl D. Perkins grant. Perkins grants aim to assist school districts and public two-year colleges improve secondary and postsecondary-level career and technical education programs.
The goal of the Pathways to CTE Success Program is to increase awareness and completion of certification and postsecondary workforce credentials by students using the homeless tuition and fee exemption and the DCF tuition and fee exemption. Mrs. Moore and Dr. Rios have already begun to develop a statewide network of informed professionals, like Positive Pathways, to support students using the exemptions in school district career and technical education programs. Unless the contract is extended or additional funds are secured, the program is slated to end on June 30, 2024.
In his new position, Dr. Rios will oversee Positive Pathways and Pathways to CTE Success, working with Mrs. Moore and William Greene, the newly-hired marketing coordinator. Mr. Greene is a 2021 graduate of Florida International University’s Communications, Public Relations and Advertising Program.
Miami-Dade County Youth Housing Helpline
Dr. Rios also will run the recently-launched Miami-Dade County Youth Housing Helpline for the Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust. Through this program, one of the few of its kind in the nation, homeless or unaccompanied youth ages 14-24 now have access directly to Educate Tomorrow, which will provide immediate support to enable young adults to secure safe shelter and other services through case management. Since the helpline launched on January 2 of this month, Dr. Rios, Program Director Devin Floyd and other Educate Tomorrow staff have already served more than 20 callers, providing shelter, referrals and other services for those in need through Miami-Dade County’s coordinated entry system.
Educate Tomorrow at Miami-Dade College
Working with CEO Brett McNaught and other key organization leaders, Dr. Rios also will lead research into Educate Tomorrow’s impact on youth and young adults in foster care throughout its various programs. Lastly, he will help relaunch the Educate Tomorrow at Miami-Dade College college coach and educational case management program. The program, which first began in 2003 with an Educate Tomorrow challenge grant and funding from various Miami-Dade funders, is one of the largest state college-based programs in the United States. During the past seven years, 480 students have earned associate of arts and bachelor’s degrees using the DCF and homeless student tuition and fee exemptions. In spring of 2024, 185 students enrolled using the DCF exemption and 135 using the homeless exemption.
Dr. Rios holds a doctorate in Adult Education and Human Resource Development from Florida International University and a master's degree in Public Administration from Florida Atlantic University. He has held leadership positions at all levels of education, from early learning to university undergraduate and graduate schools.
“We look forward to these exciting new and renewed educational initiatives, Mr. McNaught said. “We are confident that Steve and Jasmine will continue to provide the high- impact leadership as we embark on new local and statewide initiatives that will have a direct impact on the lives of thousands of students.”
Educate Tomorrow, established in 2003, has a variety of educational programs that serve students from elementary through graduate school. The organization is well-known for its extensive use of educational case management and wraparound services to support young adults as they strive to obtain their post secondary credentials.
For more information about these programs, email us at Pathways@EducateTomorrow.org
