Santa Fe College–Bradford Partnership Tackles Nurse Shortage Locally

STARKE – A new partnership between Santa Fe College and the Bradford County School District is set to expand access to nursing education in Bradford County, allowing students to earn a registered nursing degree without leaving the Starke campus.

Officials from both institutions gathered Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026, at North Florida Technical College to formalize the agreement, which will allow graduates of the technical college’s practical nursing program to enroll in Santa Fe College’s Associate of Science in Nursing program beginning this fall. North Florida Technical College, operated by the school district, is located at 609 N. Orange Street in Starke.

The partnership is supported by a $4 million grant awarded to the school district by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. The funding will provide dedicated classroom and laboratory space, along with new equipment for nursing instruction. Construction is already underway at the Starke campus.

Tracy Ison, chair of Santa Fe College’s nursing programs, said the new option removes a major barrier for students who previously had to commute to Santa Fe College’s Northwest Campus in Gainesville. In addition to the rigor of the program, she said many students face challenges related to transportation, childcare and travel time.

“I know personally how important it is to have access to an A.S.N. Registered Nursing program in my community, because being a nurse at 19 years of age had nothing to do with opportunities in high school, it had a lot to do with access to a close community A.S.N. program that was high quality and made me successful,” Ison said.

Bradford County School District Superintendent Will Hartley said the program will directly benefit local students who want to advance their careers without relocating or enduring long commutes.

“These are very exciting times for us,” Hartley said. “Since I assumed my role as superintendent, I have met with SF administration about deepening the collaboration between Bradford County School District and Santa Fe for projects like these.”

Nate Southerland, Santa Fe College Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, echoed that commitment, emphasizing the college’s long-term presence in the community.

Santa Fe College “really loves being here in Bradford County and Starke, and we want to do what we can to complement what the school district and the technical college are doing to provide opportunities for students in this area,” Southerland said.

Southerland also recognized the role of John Miller, publisher of the Bradford County Telegraph and a member of the Santa Fe College Foundation Board, for contributing time and resources to support the partnership.

The ceremony also included remarks from Lisa Prevatt, former assistant superintendent of the Bradford County School District and a trustee emeritus for Santa Fe College, who spoke about the long-term impact the collaboration is expected to have on the community.

The event concluded with a formal signing ceremony to solidify the partnership.

The Bradford County collaboration complements Santa Fe College’s broader efforts to expand nursing education, including its Nursing ANEW program, launched in 2022, which offers night and weekend classes for working professionals.

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