March 2010 April 2010 May 2010 June 2010 July 2010
August 2010
September 2010 October 2010
November 2010
December 2010
January 2011
February 2011 March 2011 April 2011 May 2011 June 2011 July 2011 August 2011 September 2011 October 2011 November 2011 December 2011 January 2012 February 2012 March 2012 April 2012 May 2012 June 2012 July 2012 August 2012 September 2012 October 2012 November 2012 December 2012 January 2013 February 2013 March 2013 April 2013 May 2013 June 2013 July 2013 August 2013 September 2013 October 2013 November 2013 December 2013 January 2014 February 2014 March 2014 April 2014 May 2014 June 2014 July 2014 August 2014 September 2014 October 2014 November 2014 December 2014 January 2015 February 2015 March 2015 April 2015 May 2015 June 2015 July 2015 August 2015 September 2015 October 2015 November 2015 December 2015 January 2016 February 2016 March 2016 April 2016 May 2016 June 2016 July 2016 August 2016 September 2016 October 2016 November 2016 December 2016 January 2017 February 2017 March 2017 April 2017 May 2017 June 2017 July 2017 August 2017 September 2017 October 2017 November 2017 December 2017 January 2018 February 2018 March 2018 April 2018 May 2018 June 2018 July 2018 August 2018 September 2018 October 2018 November 2018 December 2018 January 2019 February 2019 March 2019 April 2019 May 2019 June 2019 July 2019 August 2019 September 2019 October 2019 November 2019 December 2019 January 2020 February 2020 March 2020 April 2020 May 2020 June 2020 July 2020 August 2020 September 2020 October 2020 November 2020 December 2020 January 2021 February 2021 March 2021 April 2021 May 2021 June 2021 July 2021 August 2021 September 2021 October 2021 November 2021 December 2021 January 2022 February 2022 March 2022 April 2022 May 2022 June 2022 July 2022 August 2022 September 2022 October 2022 November 2022 December 2022 January 2023 February 2023 March 2023 April 2023 May 2023 June 2023 July 2023 August 2023 September 2023 October 2023 November 2023 December 2023 January 2024 February 2024 March 2024
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29
30
31
News Every Day |

We must support our teachers, just like they support our children

A teacher works with a student at Chalmers Elementary in Chicago.

A teacher works with a student at Chalmers Elementary in Chicago.

Nam Y. Huh/AP Photos

There’s a common saying: “Teaching is the one profession that touches all other professions.” Whether a child becomes an artist or an astronaut, they will spend much of their early lives supported by teachers who help them build a strong foundation for whatever comes next. 

These words have rung true all throughout my life, from my time as a Chicago Public Schools student on the South Side of Chicago to the various teaching and administrative positions I’ve held throughout my career in education. My teachers supported me through thick and thin, noticing the overwhelming desire I had to learn and always investing in me to reach new heights. 

Despite the vital importance of the teaching profession, many of our students will soon return to classrooms that lack the effective educators they need to help them thrive. While those of us in education have been patching holes in the teacher pipeline for years, we must constantly adapt with the start of each school year.

With 25-plus years of experience in education — from teacher to principal and now the chief program officer of The Golden Apple Foundation, an organization working to be a material solution to the teacher shortage — I always tell teachers to be fearless and relentless as they advocate for their students. Now, we must do the same for our teachers, and be intentional about creating conditions that empower them to show up as their best selves for our kids.

Opinion bug

Opinion

Current data on teacher shortages suggests that there is much to be done when it comes to setting educators up for success. A recent report by the Illinois State Board of Education found roughly 5,300 unfilled positions at Illinois schools, including more than 1,000 openings at CPS. A nationwide survey by the National Education Association found that 55% of current teachers are signaling they are considering leaving the profession.

These numbers are frightening. Without highly effective, passionate educators, who will be there for our kids? Who will provide the educational and personal support I was so fortunate to receive while I was a student?

The current shortage is a crisis, but it doesn’t have to be. Addressing it will not only require getting more teachers into the pipeline and into classrooms of need, but also providing holistic support so they stay in the profession for years to come. 

“Able, prepared and excited”

Hope for solving the teacher shortage crisis lies with those who have the drive to make an impact as a teacher, but lack the resources and support to do so. Future educators are out there, but we must ensure they’re able, prepared, and excited to take on the role of teacher. That’s where initiatives like Golden Apple’s Scholars and Accelerators programs make a difference. These programs provide the financial assistance, hands-on experience and ongoing mentoring necessary to break down key barriers that currently prevent so many candidates, and especially minority candidates, from pursuing the profession.

Collectively, more than half of all Golden Apple Scholars are the first generation in their families to attend college, and approximately 50% are people of color. The Accelerators program also opens the door to career changers who may have found their calling to teach post-college.

Opinion Newsletter

Opinion This Week

A weekly overview of opinions, analysis and commentary on issues affecting Chicago, Illinois and our nation by outside contributors, Sun-Times readers and the CST Editorial Board.

I knew I was destined to become an educator, but family finances limited my ability to attend college. It wasn’t until I heard about the Golden Apple Scholars from my career counselor that I saw a path to making my dream a reality. I applied and became a proud 1992 Golden Apple Scholar. The program put me in the best position possible to have an amazingly impactful career in the same CPS system that I attended as a child. 

There is a path for our future educators, but the responsibility of leading them to that path, and ensuring they stay the course, lies with us. I have no doubt that if individuals are given the same support I had, they will be set up for a long, fulfilling journey in education.

We must support our educators the way they support our children. The start of the new school year provides us an opportunity to recommit ourselves to those efforts. We need to ensure our teachers have what they need to not only enter the profession but stay in it — and continue shaping the futures of artists, astronauts and everything in between. 

Kesa Thurman Stovall is the chief program officer of The Golden Apple Foundation.

The Sun-Times welcomes letters to the editor and op-eds. See our guidelines.

WTA

Теннисистка Александрова оказалась сильнее полячки Швентек на турнире WTA в США

Top 10 Love Affair Movies of the 2000s and 2010s

The 10 Intense New Action Movies on Netflix That Left Me on the Edge of My Seat!

Top 10 Emmanuelle Seigner Movies

I was diagnosed with cancer aged 39… you are never too rich, too famous or too young, says Dr Philippa Kaye

Ria.city






Read also

The BEST Homemade Cinnamon Rolls Recipe!

Beyoncé slams Grammy Awards and reignites Jay Z cheating claims on savage country album

3 bedroom Townhouses for sale in Milla de Oro – R4684159

News, articles, comments, with a minute-by-minute update, now on Today24.pro

News Every Day

I was diagnosed with cancer aged 39… you are never too rich, too famous or too young, says Dr Philippa Kaye

Today24.pro — latest news 24/7. You can add your news instantly now — here


News Every Day

Top 10 Emmanuelle Seigner Movies



Sports today


Новости тенниса
Елена Рыбакина

Рыбакина о том, что не играла в Индиан-Уэллс из-за болезни: «К сожалению, восстановление заняло много времени»



Спорт в России и мире
Москва

«Радио Зенит» – информационный партнер форума «Мы вместе. Спорт»



All sports news today





Sports in Russia today

Москва

GeekVape в сотрудничестве с Absolute Racing выиграла чемпионат в категории GT3


Новости России

Game News

Пробный запуск вампирского градостроя Vampire Legacy: City Builder


Russian.city


Москва

Движение временно ограничат на двух улицах Нижегородского и Гагаринского районов


Губернаторы России
2023

На Алтае подвели итоги работы центра одаренных детей за 2023 год


Собянин: каждый москвич с инвалидностью получает помощь от города

Городской смотр строя и песни стартует у Музея Победы 1 апреля

Андрей Бочкарев: Сквер и городская площадь появятся на юго-западе Москвы

Metaratings: "Спартак" может уволить Абаскаля по ходу сезона, клуб ищет тренера


В Воткинске могут благоустроить набережную в районе музея-усадьбы Петра Чайковского

Торжественная месса Бетховена прозвучит в Мариинском в день 200-летия со дня первого исполнения

Shaman направит деньги от концерта в Ессентуках пострадавшим в "Крокусе"

В Югре снимут фильм о жизни композитора Рахманинова


Битые корты: Медведев и Александрова вышли в четвертьфинал Miami Open

Теннисистка Касаткина отреагировала на высказывания Винер о россиянах

Теннисист Медведев вышел в полуфинал турнира в Майами, обыграв Харри

Александрова впервые войдет в топ-15 мирового рейтинга



Пассажир рейса Москва — Пермь попал в реанимацию

Шапки женские вязаные на Wildberries, 2024 — новый цвет от 392 руб. (модель 466)

Архитектурные доминанты округов Москвы

«Радио Зенит» – информационный партнер форума «Мы вместе. Спорт»


Чемпионат по зимнему плаванию пройдет в Пскове

На Алтае подвели итоги работы центра одаренных детей за 2023 год

ТНТ запускает ежедневное утреннее шоу с Анной Хилькевич и Анатолием Цоем

Сергей Собянин: Новый путепровод улучшит пропускную способность других трасс


Корпоративные автопарки переходят на китайские машины

Подозреваемый Алишер Касимов обжаловал арест по делу о теракте в «Крокусе»

Собянин: каждый москвич с инвалидностью получает помощь от города

В городской гимназии № 7 Брянска состоялась акция «Сдаём вместе.День сдачи ЕГЭ родителями»



Путин в России и мире






Персональные новости Russian.city
Фредди Меркьюри

Амигуруми: как связать Фредди Меркьюри крючком (узор и схема)



News Every Day

I was diagnosed with cancer aged 39… you are never too rich, too famous or too young, says Dr Philippa Kaye




Friends of Today24

Музыкальные новости

Персональные новости