Western Illinois University Launches the Great River Teacher Corps

We are proud to share this news release from Western Illinois University on the establishment of their inaugural Great River Teacher Corps. This project received a capacity building grant from our Illinois Hub anchor, the Galesburg Community Foundation. The Rural Schools Collaborative looks forward to working with the Great River Teacher Corps as part of our Rural Teacher Corps initiative in the months ahead!

MACOMB, IL - - It is estimated that by 2019-2020, Illinois will need 20,000-24,000 new educators, and WIU is working to help meet that need. Western Illinois University's College of Education and Human Services (COEHS) is rolling out the Great River Teacher Corps, a new scholarship opportunity for teacher education students, where WIU students can receive from $2,000-4,000 annually. The application deadline is Friday, July 20.

The Great River Teacher Corps will offer three scholarships for the 2018-19 academic year. One incoming freshman will receive $2,000 per year until he or she is accepted into the Teacher Education Program, when the amount will increase to $4,000 per year for two years. Two juniors will receive $4,000 for two years.

"I'm excited about the Great River Teacher Corp program," said Greg Montalvo, assistant dean for COEHS. "It is one way WIU can support school districts in West-Central Illinois and keep talented young people in the region. We believe the program has the potential of growing a network of dedicated teacher-leaders for western Illinois, and we look forward to working with the first group of recipients."

Students who receive the scholarships will commit to teach in a rural or small school in a 22-county area for at least three years after receiving their teaching licenses/certificates.

For more information, to donate to the scholarship fund or to apply for the scholarship and view all of the requirements, visit wiu.edu/grtc.

Posted By: Alisha Looney (AA-Looney@wiu.edu)
Office of University Relations

Read more about other Rural Teacher Corps Network participants.