Senator Manar Speaks at Blackburn College. Picture courtesy: Jack McNeil

A new program is being put together to bring more teachers into the classrooms in Illinois. State Senator Andy Manar joined officials from Golden Apple and Blackburn College Wednesday morning for an announcement of the Accelerators Program.

This Accelerators Program will help quickly prepare highly-qualified teachers in areas of the state where they’re most needed including Central Illinois. Senator Manar says that he is proud of the direction of this movement.

Manar says that he put out a call to the state to fix the teacher shortage and Golden Apple stepped up.

Within the first year, 50 candidates will begin their training so that they can enter the teaching profession by 2021/2022. The program is part of a series of initiatives put forward by Senator Manar that has garnered bipartisan support. Manar thanked Golden Apple President Alan Mather for his hard work on the project.

The program will provide a one-year residency and training program allowing for additional assistance to districts while also preparing teachers. Program participants will receive a $30,000 stipend towards coursework or housing, teaching licensure within 15 months, one-year residency in a partner school in Southern, Central, or Western Illinois and much more.