College scholarships available for future Illinois teachers

Photo: Janko Ferlic/Pexels


Do you like working with young children or have an interest in pursuing a degree in the education field?

The Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity (ECACE) is offering college scholarships to students and daycare professionals that plan to teach or become administrators in the early childhood care and education field in Illinois once they have earned their degree. The scholarship is available for students studying at any one of 63 colleges and universities in the state.

If you currently work or have worked in the early childhood education field and want additional credentials like a 2- or 4-year degree, you may be eligible for the scholarship. The award is designed to help cover college costs for an academic year - including a summer session - after financial aid from other sources has been received by the applicant.

"The program was created to address the shortage of qualified early childhood educators by encouraging the pursuit of credentials and advancement of already-held degrees in early childhood education, with an aim toward building a strong, well-prepared workforce," according to scholarship announcement on the isac.org.

The application deadline for the upcoming academic year is March 1. For more information and to apply, follow this link: ECACE Scholarship Program.

End of the year school parade to be held on May 15

St. Joseph CCSD 169 principal Michelle Mabry Wagner announced on Facebook teachers will hold an end of the year drive-by parade on May 15.

"We are going to be doing a parade around town, me and all your teachers from Kindergarten to eight grade," Wagner announced in a video. "You can come out on the street and wave to us. We are doing this in honor of you."

Starting at 1pm, teachers will wind their way through the community in their vehicles to say farewell to all the students in the district.

"Even though we can't be together, we're still going to celebrate with this parade," Wagner said.

Click on map above to view a larger, clearer version of the route.



Recent study suggests childhood trauma could haunt Illinois adults for life
New data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed 75% of U.S. high school students said they have had at least one adverse childhood experience, or ACE.

Research has shown ACEs can alter a child's brain chemistry and produce a prolonged toxic stress response. Experiencing at least one ACE as a child is linked to having alcohol and substance use problems in adulthood, and chronic diseases such as diabetes and obesity.


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