HAVING PROBLEMS FINDING TEACHERS- GROW YOUR OWN.

A few years ago, Chicago public schools would have passed over college dropout and teacher candidate Anita Sanders, a 42-year-old mother of three, because she lacked teaching credentials. However, after growing tired of seeing first-year teachers flee to suburban schools, the city is now targeting teachers like Sanders. Illinois is spending $7.5 million to help people like Sanders become teachers in underperforming schools as part of the Grow Your Own Illinois initiative which aims to prepare 1,000 teachers by 2016. The candidates, mostly women of color from low-income communities, will receive forgivable college loans of up to $25,000 in exchange for a minimum five-year commitment to teach in underserved schools. In order to qualify, candidates had to show promising ability, as gauged by transcripts, an interview and performance on a test. According to Anne Hallett, director of Grow Your Own, these teachers know and love the kids and “want to make their neighborhood schools better.” For the Illinois candidates, the biggest challenge is combining the responsibilities of schoolwork, jobs and family life.

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