SOUTHERN ILLINOIS (WBC/DANA COMM.) — Golden Apple is working with area school officials to do their part in correcting the teacher shortage in Illinois. Applications are officially open for the ‘Accelerators’ Program that expedites the one-year teacher residency and licensure process. In 2022, Golden Apple is striving to expand the Accelerators program and introduce even more teachers into high-need schools and subject areas.

The Accelerators program has already been a huge success, with the inaugural cohort of Accelerators now in the classroom for their first year of full-time teaching.

Superintendent of Mt. Vernon Township High School Melanie Andrews worked with the ROE when these programs first came to the area in 2019-2020. She says the Accelerators program complements Golden Apple’s long established Scholars program.

Golden Apple launched a teacher residency and licensure program in December of 2019 to expedite the preparation of highly-qualified teachers in communities of need, including Southern Illinois.

To learn more about or apply for either program, interested parties can visit goldenapple.org.