GYO-Western
GYO-Western is a dynamic initiative led by Western Illinois University (WIU), dedicated to addressing teacher shortages in rural and underserved communities across western Illinois. Our mission is to empower aspiring educators—especially those connected to their local communities—to become highly qualified teachers who reflect and enrich the diverse student populations they serve. By partnering with a network of educational and community organizations, we're creating accessible pathways to teaching careers through innovative programs like the Paraeducator Pathway and the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT). Together, we're building a resilient teacher workforce committed to making a lasting impact in our schools.
Contact Information
For more information about GYO-Western, eligibility requirements, or the application process, please reach out:
Program Director
Dr. Lindsay Meeker
lc-dennison@wiu.edu
Program Benefits
GYO-Western 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 areas:
Special Education
Science Education
World Languages
Elementary Education
Middle Level and High School Mathematics
ESL/Bilingual Education
Visual Arts
Early Childhood Education
Music Education
Secondary English and History
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-Western, an applicant 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.
More details & get started:
Key Partners
Our strength lies in our collaborative partnerships with educational institutions and community organizations dedicated to enriching education in western Illinois.
