GYO-Southern
Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIU) leads the GYO-Southern program to address teacher shortages and promote equity in rural and minority communities throughout Illinois. Launched in 2018 with a planning grant from the Illinois Board of Higher Education, the program supports nontraditional teacher candidates (i.e., ones who did not go directly to college after high school) in Early Childhood Education and Special Education, from their teacher preparation into the classroom. Through robust partnerships with regional offices of education, the Association of Illinois Rural and Small Schools, and SIU Head Start, GYO-Southern prepares candidates to meet the needs of high-needs schools in Southern Illinois.
Contact Information
For more information about GYO-Southern, eligibility requirements, or the application process, please reach out:
Program Director
Dr. Dee Ann Schnautz
gyoteachers@siu.edu
(618) 453-2415
Program Benefits
GYO-Southern provides extensive support to help aspiring teachers overcome financial and logistical challenges. 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-Southern can pursue teaching licenses in the following licensure areas:
Early Childhood Education
(birth through grade 2)Special Education (grades K-12)
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
An eligible applicant to the GYO-Southern program must:
Be a paraeducator (e.g., tutor, coach, school staff, etc.), 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.
Commit to serving rural and diverse school communities.
More details & get started:
Key Partners
Our program thrives thanks to strong collaborations with our dedicated partners.
