***PRESS RELEASE***
Home Grown, High Quality Teachers
ISBE Awards Grants for Teacher Shortage in Southern Illinois
The Southern Illinois Future Teachers Coalition (SIFTC), a partnership between John A. Logan College, Shawnee Community College, Southern Illinois University, the Illinois State Board of Education, and nine Southern Illinois high schools which include Anna-Jonesboro, Carterville, Cobden, Johnston City, Joppa, Massac, Meridian, Vienna, and West Frankfort, is working to address the teacher shortage that is being experienced state-wide with targeted programming at the local level in Southern Illinois.
The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) has awarded an Education Career Pathways Grant worth $249,000 in the first year and will total almost a $1 million investment in Southern Illinois to address the teacher shortage over the next four years.
With the grant’s support, SIFTC is pulling together key partners in the region to build effective career pathways that begin in junior high and provide a clear road map to becoming a high quality licensed teacher and return these students back to the classrooms that are vacant in the region.
Vienna School Superintendent, Joshua Stafford, shared that the grant award could not have come at a better time due to a growing teacher shortage in Southern Illinois.
“A recent study at SIU showed that the majority of our educators in Southern Illinois are working in districts within a 13-mile radius of where they attended high school,” said Stafford. “We know that the solution to our teacher shortage will come from us working collaboratively together as schools, communities, and a region to equip our young people to fill these positions downstate, and this grant will help us do that.”
According to John A. Logan College Grant Coordinator Dr. Tammy Gwaltney, “This grant allows us to show students that not only are there career opportunities as classroom teachers, but also in other areas as well. For example, if someone is interested in social work, there will be activities designed to help pique their interest in becoming a school social worker.”
Nancy Mundschenk, Director of Teacher Education at SIU shared, “This project is a wonderful example of what a true partnership can accomplish. The high schools, community colleges and SIU are working together to design, implement and evaluate a well-crafted teacher preparation program that will inspire young people to consider education professions, and ignite their passion for teaching and learning.”
Dr. Tim Taylor, Shawnee Community College President, said “...many of the residents we serve live at or below the poverty rate. Research is clear, the most effective way to break the chain of generational poverty is through the pursuit of education. Having more highly qualified teachers in our community will help immensely with this systemic problem.”
Gwaltney added that the activities supported by the grant are designed to help keep K-12 schools in Southern Illinois populated with homegrown educators. “There are all sorts of activities, groups, and workshops to help us grow our own and show students that there are career options in education, and by giving them the support to make those career goals a reality.”
Stafford added that the teacher shortage in Southern Illinois is exacerbated because many school districts are currently not adequately funded. “Less adequately funded schools are disproportionately affected by the teacher shortage than larger more affluent property wealthy districts, and in our region, the majority of our schools fall into the tier where they are below 70 percent of adequate funding,” said Stafford. “That is why this program is so important to help build that foundation that we can sustain into the future that pours back into our communities.”
SIFTC is seeking two highly motivated and passionate applicants to lead the work and fulfill the mission and purpose of creating an effective and diverse educator pipeline in Southern Illinois. You can find more information about SIFTC at http://www.viennahs.com/siftc.
A photo package can be found at the below link.
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1wZ83yUY5-x9rsxI2s7wu-2gcE9vZW0wA?usp=sharing
See the ISBE Press Release at:
The photo package below captures Vienna students in Mrs. Leslie Bradley’s dual credit education courses fulfilling the observation requirements of the dual credit education courses taught at Vienna. The students in these courses are meeting the requirements for Human Development and Learning (EDUC214) and Diversity in Education (EDUC211) at Southern Illinois University. https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1wZ83yUY5-x9rsxI2s7wu-2gcE9vZW0wA?usp=sharing | |
Vienna senior Brady Rudluff is currently enrolled in the educator dual credit program with instructor Leslie Bradley. Brady is pictured playing Uno with Mrs. Vinson’s kindergarten students. | |
Harmony Womack, a senior, is enrolled in the dual credit educator pipeline program at Vienna. Harmony is pictured helping a Vienna first grader practice her reading skills. | |
Alli Knaak, a senior, is assisting in Mrs. Quertermous’ 1st grade class. She is pictured helping the student with his Scholastic work. | |
Maddie Thorton, a junior, starts her observation work each Friday at recess with the 5th grade students. | |
Heather Trambley, a senior, is helping an 8th grade student in Mrs. Douglas’ class with preparing for an upcoming test over The Outsiders. | |
