Investing in Staff Growth: District 47 Teacher Vacancy Grant
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Investing in Staff Growth: District 47 Teacher Vacancy Grant
District 47 is proud to highlight the inspiring journey of two dedicated staff members who transitioned from support roles to full-time teaching positions through the Teacher Vacancy Grant. This grant has played a pivotal role in helping fill critical teaching positions while investing in the growth and development of District 47 staff.
Last school year, District 47 was among 170 Illinois districts to receive the first Teacher Vacancy Grant to address the national teacher shortage. The grant provides financial support for student teaching and coursework, helping staff members earn their teaching credentials. These funds assisted three staff members with the cost of student teaching and earning bachelor’s degrees in Elementary Education with a Bilingual focus.
In its second year of funding, District 47 used the Teacher Vacancy Grant to focus on two critical areas: Special Education and Dual Language. The grant is currently supporting 25 staff members in earning endorsements in these fields and has also assisted three additional future staff members in completing their student teaching and degree requirements in Elementary Education with a Bilingual focus.
Manuel Gonzalez, a fourth-grade dual language teacher at Canterbury Elementary, and Yvonne Rhodes, a fourth-grade dual language teacher at Coventry Elementary, discovered their passion for teaching while working in other roles within the district. The Teacher Vacancy Grant helped them turn that dream into reality.
Gonzalez's journey began with custodial work before transitioning to a role with the district's technology department. Eventually, he pursued his teaching degree through the Teacher Vacancy Grant, which provided financial support for his student teaching and coursework.
You have your career and degree paid for, but you also give back to the district.
-Manuel Gonzalez
For Rhodes, the path to the classroom started with two decades of experience in the district's Transportation Joint Agreement (TJA), where she worked as a driver, trainer, third-party tester, and dispatcher. When Rhodes learned about the Teacher Vacancy Grant, she realized it was the perfect opportunity to pursue her long-time dream of becoming a teacher. Reflecting on her journey, Rhodes added,
I worked for District 47, and I'm still working for District 47. I love it.
-Yvonne Rhodes