ELGIN, IL (WBBM NEWSRADIO) - The state’s second largest school district has just begun offering non-teaching employees a chance to be reimbursed for tuition to become teachers or do other work that’s greatly needed by the district.
District U-46 Superintendent Tony Sanders said he should have come up with a tuition reimbursement plan sooner since he benefited from one in order to get his doctorate and become superintendent.
He said that, just as students were first returning to in-person learning, he was approached about the concept.
“I had a bus driver that stopped me and said, ‘You have all these professional development opportunities for all sorts of staff members but, what about me as a bus driver? I would like to go and become a teacher,” said Sanders.
Superintendent Sanders thought that might be a good way to fill more teaching positions at a time school districts all around the country are struggling to find teachers. So, he instructed his staff to begin working on a program and now it’s being offered to employees.
Sanders said the opportunity will also be provided to employees who want to become a skilled tradesperson like plumber, carpenter or glazier.
Employees who take advantage of the program will be asked to remain in those positions in District U-46 for at least five years.
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