By WMBD-TV
PEORIA – The state of Illinois is in short supply of teachers, but a new recruitment campaign is aiming to get more educators in classrooms.
On Monday, The Illinois State Board of Education announced their newest $6 million statewide campaign to get more teachers hired in schools. During the 2023-2024 school year, Peoria ranked 37th in the state with a 5.5% teacher vacancy.
“I remember when I started ten years ago, we had over 100 teacher openings, and now we’re about 14,” said Peoria Public Schools Superintendent, Dr. Sharon Desmoulin-Kherat
Peoria County Regional Superintendent Beth Crider said becoming a teacher changed her life for the better.
“It’s such impact on the foundation of who we are, I would argue, as the United States is that education is the great equalizer. It provides equity of opportunity so that everyone has a chance to develop their potential and to do great things and to be a part of that. Teaching is the greatest profession,” said Crider.
She hopes the portion of money from the campaign going back into Central Illinois will highlight real stories from educators and why they love teaching.
“I want to see is authentic stories from real teachers on the front lines. What are those rewards? What are those benefits? Why did they choose this career? And more importantly, why have they stayed? We lose a lot of teachers in the first five years because of them being supported and mentored and helped along in those hard years. So I really want to hear those stories. We’re so bogged down in the day to day in education, and we are the worst at telling our story,” said Crider.
You can find open teaching positions by visiting the Illinois Education Job Bank.
