Rural Locations, Pandemic Worsen Educator Shortages In East Central Region
Editor’s Note: Lee Enterprises reporters Lenore Sobota, Kelsey Watznauer and Lyndsay Jones of The Pantagraph in Bloomington; Valerie Wells of the Herald & Review in Decatur; and Rob Stroud of the Journal Gazette/Times-Courier in Mattoon-Charleston contributed to this story. SPRINGFIELD – East central Illinois school districts have an even greater difficulty filling teaching positions than […]
Teacher Shortage Worsening For Most Illinois Districts, Survey Shows
SPRINGFIELD – A new survey of Illinois school districts shows most are continuing to have trouble filling open teaching positions with qualified teachers and even more are having difficulty hiring substitute teachers. It’s a problem that has existed in the state for many years and one that experts attribute to a variety of factors, such as low […]
Report: Teaching In Illinois ‘Not Sustainable’ During COVID-19
SPRINGFIELD – The COVID-19 pandemic will likely worsen Illinois’ teacher shortage. Educators who were already in short supply in the state face increased challenges on the job, according to a new report from the University of Illinois’ Institute of Government and Public Affairs. Meghan A. Kessler, who authored the report and is an assistant professor […]
News Around Illinois – Aug. 27, 2020
Women Gets 6 Years For Driving Off Unfinished Highway Bridge URBANA, Ill. (AP) — A central Illinois woman who admitted being drunk when she drove off an unfinished bridge onto a highway, seriously injuring a man, has been sentenced to six years in prison. Ashia Marshall, 30, wept in court Wednesday as she expressed remorse […]
New Law Removes Big Barrier For Aspiring Teachers
SPRINGFIELD – In an attempt to relieve Illinois’ severe teacher shortage, state lawmakers last year voted to remove a requirement known as the “basic skills test.” That test has proven to be a stumbling block, especially for people pursuing the profession later in life, as a second career. This change, enacted just five months ago, has […]