CENTRALIA — Golden Apple and the Regional Office of Education 13 has announced a partnership to combat the area’s growing teacher shortage.

The program, called the “Golden Apple Accelerators Program”, will expedite the preparation of highly-qualified teachers for areas of the state most in need of teachers.

Alan Mather is the President of Golden Apple, says while this is the launch year for the program, he says it could be making big impact in just a few years.

Centralia High School Superintendent Chuck Lane says there are a number of factors that have led to the current teaching shortage in Illinois. One reason he notes is that teaching isn’t the valued profession it once was and that in Illinois it can be difficult to get a teaching degree in just four years.

ROE 13 Assistant Superintendent Melanie Andrews says that this year 76-percent of new teachers in Illinois came from out of state.

Through the Golden Apple Accelerators Program, college seniors or people who already have a Bachelor’s Degree can become licensed teachers within 15 months.

Mather explains that the first-year program will accept 50 applicants with an application deadline of February 10, 2020, and will be ready to teach full-time in the fall of 2021.

All coursework and/or housing for the program are paid for through a state-provided stipend and would be at no cost to the participant.

Mather says Golden Apple will recruit from within the communities it serves so participants don’t have to worry about being committed to moving across the state when they complete the program.

If you are interested in the program, you can go to goldenapple.org/accelerators for more information.