GYO-PEORIA
GYO-Peoria is a vibrant, community-driven initiative dedicated to empowering aspiring educators in the Peoria area. Our mission is to diversify the teaching workforce with individuals passionate about making a difference in their neighborhoods as well as committed to teaching in Peoria's public schools. Our candidates attend local colleges in the region, including Bradley University, Illinois Central College, and Illinois State University. With the support of our program partners, we're creating pathways for talented individuals to become the educators our community needs.
Contact Information
For more information about GYO-Peoria, eligibility requirements, or the application process, please reach out:
Program COORDINATOR
Linda Wilson
linda.wilson@psd150.org
Program Benefits
GYO-Peoria 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
Participants in GYO-Northern can pursue teaching licenses in the following specializations:
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-Peoria, 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 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 thanks to strong collaborations with our dedicated partners.
