College of Education

Chances are, most of the dedicated teachers who guide the children in your community are female and white. Nationwide and in Illinois, only 25% of our teachers are men. In Illinois, only 15% of teachers are minorities, compared to 40% of students. In Chicago, the odds of drawing a minority teacher are even less: Only 50% of teachers are minorities, compared to 90% of students.

You can improve these odds – by serving your community as a teacher and a respected role model for future generations. University of St. Francis Diversity at the Blackboard makes it possible. Sponsored by the Associated Colleges of Illinois’ Center for Success in High-Need Schools and its member colleges and universities, Diversity at th Blackboard is building a new corps of excellent teachers who more closely resemble our increasingly diverse students: more African Americans…more Hispanics…more men.

As a teacher, you’ll help more children in your community succeed – and be part of a statewide movement to improve teaching and learning in high-need schools. Without teachers of color, minority students are more likely to drop out of school and less likely to be engaged in education. Students – especially men and minorities -- perform better in school when their teachers look like them. Shortages of minority teachers make it difficult for schools to relate to diverse students and their parents. Thanks to the gender gap, young men can traverse the whole of their elementary and middle school experience without ever encountering a male teacher. In early grades, where the vast majority of teachers are women, boys are more likely than girls to have problems reading, even if their skills are comparable to female peers. Is it any wonder that, later on, far fewer minority men than women finish high school and go on to college? After you graduate, you’ll join one of America’s most well respected professions. Recent surveys show that the American public holds teachers in high esteem, ranking them just after firefighters and other key public servants, and teachers have always been role models in lowincome and minority communities.

As a teacher, you’ll earn both a competitive salary and benefits few other jobs provide. Illinois teachers now average $53,800 per year, significantly higher than the state’s median household income, and even most starting salaries are competitive with those for bachelor-degreed workers in other fields.Teachers enjoy both greater job security than workers in the volatile corporate environment and better benefits than most employees: comprehensive health insurance, retirement programs, and summer vacations your friends and family will envy.

ACI’s Diversity at the Blackboard initiative offers options and benefits that make teaching an accessible career path. University of St. Francis Diversity at the Blackboard Program allows:

Affordability- There are numerous scholarship opportunities through

• University-wide Scholarships

Support- You will receive support from the Academic Resource Center

• College Success Network
• Mentor Program
• Free Tutoring

Real World Experience- Enjoy the opportunity to participate in Field Experience through the Joliet Professional Development School Partnership (JPDSP)

• Become a JPDSP Fellow
• Field experience at a high need school