Grow Your Own Teachers
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SIU Carbondale and a state-sponsored Grow Your Own Teachers grant (GYO) are seeking non-traditional students who desire to work in high-need teaching positions in Early Childhood, serving rural and minority communities throughout Illinois. The program strives to promote diversity, the wisdom of community, and the best education possible.
Select GYO candidates will receive financial, academic, and emotional support to assist them in earning their Professional Educator's License (PEL) in Early Childhood Education.
Grow Your Own teachers stand out for their subject mastery, classroom management skills, and expectations of excellence from their students.
About GYO Illinois
Grow Your Own Illinois is a 501c3 non-profit that advances the efforts of the GYO consortia to achieve equity, excellence and diversity in the new teacher pipeline and the teaching force.
To learn more about GYO, please contact us at gyoteachers@siu.edu.
The Mission Of GYO Illinois Is To:
The Priorities Of GYO Illinois Include:
Impacts As A Result Of Meeting Our Goals:
GYO Illinois
Grow Your Own Teachers became law in 2004. Beginning in fiscal year 2007, state legislators began making annual appropriations in the state budget to support the program. The GYO statute outlines the parameters of the program detailing eligibility and requirements during and after the program. In FY2020, GYO IL was named the administrator of the state's GYO grant program. GYO IL now proudly provides grants to 5 locally-run programs across the state with approximately 250 teacher candidates. Learn more about GYO IL!