Chicago Teaching Resources
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School Spotlight
Argosy University offers a convenient and stimulating environment for optimal learning. Argosy offers many education programs and can bring you closer to a teaching career in Chicago. Learn how to begin your teaching career today.
Useful Links
Catalyst Chicago Teaching Publication
New Teachers Network at The Center for Urban School Improvement
Illinois New Teachers Collaborative
Illinois State Board of Education Credential Requirements
National Board for Professional Teaching Standards
Advantages to Teaching in Chicago
By Dana Larsen
Today is a unique and exciting time to become a teacher in Chicago given the numerous government initiatives and fellowships that focus on education improvements. Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is the third largest public school system in the US, which also generates a need for qualified teachers. This makes Chicago a great setting for aspiring teachers.
Along with the extensive teaching opportunities fueled by education reform, Chicago offers competitive teaching salaries in a vibrant, metropolitan environment. According to Catalyst Chicago, an independent teaching publication, the average Chicago teacher salary in the district in 2006 was $63,509 and the average salary in Illinois was $56,686. This makes Chicago not only an interesting city with the old-town streetcars, attractions and blues clubs, but also a great setting for a well-paying and rewarding teaching career.
If you would like to become a Chicago teacher, browse our accredited Chicago Teaching Schools.
Chicago Teaching Opportunities
Renaissance 2010
Renaissance 2010 is an initiative that focuses on improving education in Chicago's schools by 2010. This initiative introduces a hybrid of charter and contract/traditional schools with the vision to create 100 high-performing schools in designated communities. The schools in these designated areas are held accountable for performance based on test scores, parent involvement, student attendance, teacher turnover, graduation rate and attendance. Renaissance 2010 has been one of the catalysts for education transformation throughout Chicago's 600 public schools and this initiative's vision to promote student learning has created programs like Chicago Teaching Fellows, The New Teachers Network and the Illinois New Teacher Collaborative (INTC).
Chicago Teaching Fellows
Chicago Public Schools recently marked the largest one-year jump in scores on the Illinois Standards Achievement Test since 1995. The city is looking to continue this trend through exciting programs such as the Chicago Teaching Fellows, a competitive alternate teaching certification program where select candidates begin teaching full-time while simultaneously earning their teaching certificates at local universities. This program provides a pathway for outstanding individuals to bring their knowledge, experience and leadership to CPS classrooms and to earn their teaching credentials while earning a teacher's salary. Chicago Teaching Fellows are specifically looking for teachers in the math, science and special education subject specialties.
New Teachers Network at The Center for Urban School Improvement
According to Debra Williams, Associate Editor for Catalyst Chicago, there are also other opportunities for new teachers in the Chicago area. “The New Teachers Network is a highly regarded program by many educators. This network is a two-year induction program that is a project of the Center for Urban School Improvement at The University of Chicago and along with the camaraderie of working with other newcomers and learning new teaching techniques, the meetings also provide a place for teachers to pick up practical tips to ease day-to-day life in classrooms and to make a positive impact in Chicago schools.” The New Teachers Network is an example of the teacher support programs offered in CPS that provide a great environment for new teachers who are developing curriculum.
Illinois New Teacher Collaborative (INTC)
Debra Williams recommends that new teachers join a professional development organization like the Illinois New Teacher Collaborative. “It has tons of information, resources and programs for Illinois teachers. This organization links new teachers to mentors and provides online mentoring,” Williams comments. New teachers can become members of INTC and join discussions, contribute resources and join communities which best fit their interests. The overall goal of this program is “to establish a collaborative leadership among education partners from around the state ensuring that the school districts have the resources they need to recruit and support new Illinois teachers.” This program is another support system to help teachers promote success for Chicago’s youth.
Chicago Teaching Credentials
Illinois has a three-tiered professional certification system which includes initial, standard and master teaching certificates.
- Initial certification is for teachers with less than four years of teaching.
- Standard certification is for teachers who have completed their first four years of teaching and want to renew for an additional five years.
- Master certification is for teachers who have met the rigorous standards of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS).
In order to obtain a first professional certificate, an applicant must complete an approved education program, which is usually a bachelor’s in teaching program from an accredited university. Students in Illinois Education schools have teaching programs that are approved by the State Superintendent of Education and the State Board of Education. These programs require students to be admitted to a teacher education program for the certificate type and subject area of the student’s interest. Once students complete the accredited program, the university recommends the student for the first teaching certificate.
Teachers from other states may demonstrate they have met the requirement by presenting either a valid certificate from another state or by presenting a state-approved verification form that is signed by the recommending institution’s designating authority. Students can then apply for Illinois certification
There are also alternate certification programs, as discussed with the Chicago Teaching Fellows program. Students who are accepted into these programs must obtain a provisional alternative certificate which is valid for one year for the grade level of the program. Students then complete their alternative teacher certification while they are provided with mentoring and professional development as they work as qualified teachers.
Get more Chicago teaching credential information from the Illinois State Board of Education and the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.
School Spotlight
Founded in 1851, Northwestern University is a private institution that offers master of arts in learning disability education programs. Northwestern prepares students to be educators and supervisors in the field of learning disabilities and graduates find numerous employment opportunities in schools, clinics, community agencies and private practices. Northwestern offers high quality education standards to educate future generations.