Recent studies have shown a shortage of teachers in the state of Illinois. To address this issue, individuals from Bradley University's Department of Teacher Education met with State Senator Chuck Weaver and representatives from Peoria Public Schools (PPS) to initiate a renewed partnership between PPS and Bradley.
As part of this renewed partnership, a two-tiered approach to hiring teachers was established. This approach includes:
(1) facilitating a series of professional development (PD) sessions by PPS faculty/staff on K-12 education topics for teacher candidates that are formally advanced in their respective preparation programs, and
(2) piloting a year-long clinical placement of Bradley teacher candidates to PPS for novice and student teaching.
The next available PD session of the “Aspiring Educator’s Program,” takes place this Thursday, February 15, in Bradley's Westlake Hall, room 116, from 4:30 - 5:30 p.m. The presentation is titled "Rigor and Lesson Planning," and an open discussion is set to follow. Interested parties may attend.
Teacher Education Chair at Bradley - Dean Cantu stated, "This program truly embodies what is needed to fully prepare educators for the classroom of today and tomorrow as well as begins to address the teacher shortage crisis that Illinois and the nation are facing."
