Seeking Amazing Teachers Who Want to #GrowinEvergreen
The District 124 Grow Your Own Program is designed to recruit and train teachers from within our community and school district in an effort to not only have strong educators in our schools, but to help our teachers continue their passion for life-long learning. There are three distinct programs that aim to offer educators and aspiring educators a way to grow and to #BeEvergreen.
- Pre-Service Teacher Program: Plant seeds in Evergreen Park with eligibility for paid student teaching and mentorship opportunities.
- Paraprofessional to Teacher Program: Deepen your roots by pursuing a Professional Educator’s License with support from the district.
- D124 Teachers Seeking Additional Endorsements: Broaden your branches and reach new heights in your craft with tuition reimbursements.
Why Offer a Grow Your Own Program?
Evergreen Park Elementary School District 124 is all about collaboration, connection, and continuous improvement. We are not satisfied with the status quo and always push ourselves to be the best we can be for our students, our community, and our world. With an ongoing need across the country for qualified and dedicated teachers, D124 is proud to create a system for new teachers to find a strong foundation and for our experienced teachers to push themselves further. We serve a diverse community and aim to continue diversifying our teaching staff in an effort to close the teacher-student diversity gap.
Our Programs Ways to #GrowinEvergreen
Certified Teachers
This program is for current or future D124 teachers who are going back to school for additional endorsements in identified difficult to fill positions. If you are looking to grow in your teaching craft and take on new challenges, this program is for you! If approved, you will receive tuition reimbursement to pursue a new endorsement and once completed, you commit to work for three years at D124 in the area of the endorsement.
$300 per credit hour up to six credits per semester.
- Application
- Letter of recommendation from building principal
- In-person Interview with GYO Committee
- Willingness to work for three years following endorsement in the area of the endorsement
Paraprofessionals
Being a paraprofessional is an incredible start to a fulfilling career in education! D124 is thrilled to offer this program for current D124 paraprofessionals who enroll in an accredited program and have served in the district for a minimum of two years to pursue a teaching credential with a commitment to hone your craft here. We are proud to partner with universities to assist in supporting your program completion. Participants in this program will also roll into the Early Identification Program before completing student teaching for additional support.
$2,500 per semester for a total of four semesters.
- Application
- Two letters of recommendation which includes their direct supervisor
- Transcripts/HS Diploma/GED
- In person Interview with GYO Committee
Willingness to commit to working in D124 for five years following student teaching.
Pre-Service Teachers
Pursuing a degree and a career in education is a noble and life-changing path! D124 wants to support and nurture aspiring teachers through mentoring, paid student teaching opportunities, and more in order to provide our students with amazing teachers and teachers with a fantastic place to grow. This program is for pre-service teachers one year prior to student teaching who are currently enrolled in an Illinois approved teaching program and will accept five students annually to serve as a cohort. This group will receive incredible support from current D124 teachers who will serve as mentors as well as be eligible for a paid student teaching position in the district with a commitment to work with D124 upon completion of schooling.
- $500 Stipend per semester prior to student teaching total $1,000
- A district mentor to provide support and guidance
- Inclusion in district professional development opportunities
- Site approval for pre-service observation hours
- Eligible for paid student teaching opportunity ($10,000 Stipend)
- Participants in the Pre-Service Mentoring program will commit to teaching at Evergreen Park for a minimum of three years if an open position is available in the area of licensure.
- Pre-service teachers being paid for student teaching will commit to teaching at Evergreen Park for a minimum of three years if an open position is available in the area of licensure.
- Letter of Interest
- Application
- Two letters of recommendation
- Transcripts/HS Diploma/GED
- In person Interview with GYO Committee