Lane 1
Manatee Schools careers
manateeschools.net → Careers. Search: curriculum specialist, fine arts, specialist, coordinator, family liaison, testing, student support, choice. Internal-transfer postings appear here first.
Lane 2
Sarasota Schools HR
sarasotacountyschools.net → Human Resources → Search and Apply. Search: curriculum, specialist, coach, library media technician, program manager, family. Sarasota uses two steps: a category application, then applying to each specific posting.
Lane 3
Colleges & universities
SCF on schooljobs.com/careers/scf; USF on careers.usf.edu (Sarasota-Manatee channel); New College on ncf.edu; Ringling via jobs.fsu.edu. Search: advisor, success coach, coordinator, specialist, scholastic, museum education.
Lane 4
County government
Manatee County on governmentjobs.com/careers/manateecounty; Sarasota County on its Workday portal (scgov.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com). Search: librarian, library, recreation coordinator, youth, program coordinator, elections, clerk.
Lane 5
State of Florida
jobs.myflorida.com, location Bradenton + Sarasota + Venice. Search: health educator, family support, family navigator, program specialist, eligibility specialist. Also check floridalibraryjobs.org, which aggregates Florida library postings including both county systems.
Lane 6
Florida Virtual School
flvs.net → Careers. Search: curriculum specialist, family engagement, communications specialist, literacy. Skip “instructor” unless you decide remote teaching is an acceptable bridge.
Set alerts, don’t just browseEvery portal above offers saved searches or job alerts. Create one alert per lane with the terms listed, weekly frequency. The right specialist posting may only stay open 5–10 days — alerts are how you see it in time.
Before you apply to anything
Four checks that take five minutes and protect the whole plan. Run them on every single posting.
1. Is it a regular position?
If the posting says OPS, temporary, seasonal, part-time contract, or adjunct, it almost certainly earns no FRS service. Skip it, or confirm FRS coverage with HR in writing before you invest hope in it.
2. Who is the actual employer?
A job at a school or college is not always a job with the district or college — staffing agencies and nonprofits place people inside public buildings without FRS. The employer named on the posting is what counts.
3. What does it really pay?
Compare total compensation: salary, the employer’s FRS contribution, health insurance, and leave. A $45K district-office job with FRS can beat a $52K private job with a 401(k) match you have to fund yourself — do the full math on the FRS future page.
4. Bachelor’s — or master’s required?
“Master’s preferred” means apply. “Master’s required” (certified media specialist, most librarian titles, some FDLRS roles) means the posting is not for you — yet. Note it and move on rather than hoping.
How to present a music-teacher résumé
Same career, translated. Hiring managers outside classrooms respond to outcomes and scale, not lesson plans.
Say “program,” not “class”
Translate“Directed a 300-student elementary music program: 12 public performances a year, $8K instrument budget, district festival ratings” reads as program management — because it is.
Lead with presenting
TranslateAny PD, coaching, training, or liaison application should open with workshops you’ve led, new teachers you’ve mentored, and presentations you’ve given. Adults are the audience in these jobs.
Quantify the family work
TranslateConferences held, families served, volunteers coordinated, events run. Family-liaison and student-services postings are won on exactly this evidence.
Keep the certificate visible
CredentialYour Florida professional certificate is a requirement or a strong plus for district specialist, coach, and FLVS curriculum roles. List it near the top, with years of service.