Illinois schools see better teacher recruitment, but shortages persist

MACHESNEY PARK, Ill. (WTVO) — The State Board of Education says efforts to recruit teachers to fill shortages in Illinois appear to be working.

In 2023, the state showed nearly 41,000 vacant positions, while the new data shows about 38,000.

Administrators at Machesney Park’s Harlem School District said there has been an increase in the number of applicants for teaching positions this year.

“There was a handful of years there where we really struggled to fill some of our positions,” explained Harlem’s Assistant Superintendent Jason Blume. “We had very small candidate pools. But we have noticed, definitely, an increase over the last year or two in the number of individuals applying for teaching positions.”

Human Resource Administrator Shelley Wagner said Harlem’s recent applicant pool, the largest in 4 years, is the result of a concerted recruitment effort.

“This year has been the best year as far as applicant pools that I’ve seen,” she said. “Instead of getting very little, like single digit numbers, we’re getting double-digit number applicants. This is the first year that we’ve been under 50 total openings and that includes all of our categories. So bus drivers, maintenance, custodial teaching positions.”

Blume said the school is also focused on reaching out to students, in an effort to make a career in education something they would choose for the future.

“We need our young students in high school and middle school, to consider this as a career option and an option that is fulfilling and joyful. We need to do our part to make sure that our kids that are going through our system see this as a viable option for them,” Blume said.

Harlem said even though recruitment efforts are improving, they are still facing a teacher shortage, along with a deficit in bus drivers and custodians.