GYO-CHICAGo/LAKE COUNTY
GYO-Chicago/Lake County is a community-centered initiative that supports aspiring educators in pursuing teaching careers within their own neighborhoods. We provide extensive support to help our candidates overcome financial and system barriers. We collaborate with local teacher preparation programs and community organizations to offer accessible, high-quality, community-focused teacher training. Now in our second decade, we have served hundreds of candidates working toward careers in public schools across Chicago and Lake County. Together, we are building a diverse, resilient teacher workforce that reflects and enriches our vibrant student communities.
Contact Information
For more information about GYO-Chicago/Lake County, eligibility requirements, or the application process, please get in touch with us:
Program Director
Richard Nettles
rnettles@gyo-il.org
(773) 322-7419
1901 W. Carroll Suite 201A, Chicago, IL 60612
Program Benefits
GYO-Chicago/Lake County provides extensive support to help aspiring teachers overcome financial and systemic barriers. Program benefits include:
State-Funded Forgivable Loans
Candidates may receive up to $25,000 in forgivable loans to help cover tuition and related educational expenses.
Comprehensive Support
GYO programs may offer a range of resources, including transportation and childcare stipends, tutoring, laptop loans, and dedicated program staff to help candidates manage registration, financial aid, and campus resources.
Peer and Community Support
Candidates benefit from a network of peers and regular monthly meetings.
University Licensure Offerings
GYO-Chicago/Lake County offers pathways to teaching licenses in specializations that are in high demand within our local school districts:
Bilingual Education
Early Childhood Education
Elementary Education
Special Education
Secondary Education (in high-need subjects)
By aligning our licensure offerings with district needs, we ensure that you are prepared to step into a role where you can make an immediate and significant impact.
GYO-IL Eligibility Requirements
We're looking for individuals committed to making a difference in their communities. To be eligible for GYO-Chicago/Lake County, an applicant must:
Be a paraeducator (e.g., tutor, coach, school staff), parent and community leader, or student with a non-traditional background (i.e., one who did not go directly to a four-year college after high school) in our region.
Commit to teaching in a hard-to-staff local public school or a hard-to-staff position in Illinois for five years.
Meet academic and admissions standards for their chosen teacher preparation program.
Meet GYO-IL program standards, which include maintaining a GPA of 2.5 or higher, attending monthly cohort and coordinator meetings, and adhering to performance standards.
More details & get started:
Key Partners
Our program thrives on the strength of our consortium and is a collaborative effort dedicated to educational equity and excellence.
