LM April2022_hi

Regional Partnership to Address the Teacher Shortage EducationPathways:

Left to right: Sophie Deck; Ms. Justine Gimer (teacher); Abigail Loewenstein; all from Mahomet-Seymour High School

By Dr. Lindsey Hall, Superintendent, Mahomet-Seymour CUSD #3

The teacher shortage that has plagued school districts across Illinois and nationwide is a multi-faceted problem without easy fixes. That’s why educators in eastern Illinois, where I serve as superintendent of Mahomet-Seymour CUSD #3, recognized that no single district could face this crisis alone. Beginning in the 2020–2021 school year, students across our region have had the opportunity to complete coursework, earn college credit and gain real-world experience through classroom observations and assisting full-time teachers as part of a new Education Pathway program jointly developed

by Parkland College, the Education For Employment (EFE) System #330 and local school districts. The goal is to generate a “pipeline” of future educators by identifying high school students who show an interest or curiosity in education. “It is a great example of secondary and post-secondary collaboration to ultimately provide a seamless transition into a high-need career area for our students,” said Nick Elder, the Executive Director of EFE #330.

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LM April 2022