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Golden Apple Program Addresses Teacher Shortage In Illinois

After an extremely challenging school year for students, teachers, and administrators, the conversation of a teacher shortage has been at the forefront. The Golden Apple program, which helps future teachers for rural, suburban, and urban schools-of-need in Illinois through their Scholars and Accelerators programs, held a round table virtual event on Wednesday to discuss that shortage. 

According to the Illinois Association of Regional Superintendents of Schools, 77% of school districts in Illinois report having a teacher shortage problem, and 93% of districts report a substitute teacher shortage problem. Matt Snyder, Superintendent of the Regional Office of Education #39 says that districts are doing what they have to do to get teachers.

 

 

Golden Apple President Alan Mather says that they have an Accelerators Program which is a one-year residency program that expedites the preparation of highly-qualified teachers. Ashley Tyler, a member of that Accelerators Program says that it is a fantastic program that has helped her get ready to teach in Illinois and beyond. She says that COVID changed things but it helped with growth.

 

 

Michelle Stacy, a Professor of Education at Blackburn College says that Blackburn has worked hard to have coursework designed to help maximize the time students are in school so they can be best prepared to teach.

 

President Mather says that while the teacher shortage has been going on for a while, COVID exasperated it. Snyder says that this has been going on for at least 10 years.

 

 

Golden Apple welcomed its inaugural class of Accelerators in June of 2020 and placed participants in 22 districts throughout Illinois. The inaugural class will receive their teaching licenses this summer and begin teaching this fall. 
 

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