Job Placement Assistance
We believe in helping Scholars find the best fit teaching position in schools-of-need across the State of Illinois. Job search and resume assistance services are offered to Scholars at all levels of their teaching career.
Please utilize the below tools if you are seeking a position in an Illinois school-of-need.
Scholars may teach at any school-of-need in Illinois, but we are proud to strategically partner with the following school districts:
Mentoring
Given the value of mentoring in the first years of teaching as cited by multiple education researchers, mentoring is a critical and requisite element of our program. Therefore, Teaching Scholars in their first- and second-years of teaching in a school-of-need will be assigned a mentor by Golden Apple, per the Golden Apple Scholars Program outline of supports. All Teaching Scholars who are teaching in schools-of-need must participate in our mentoring program in their first- and second-years of teaching. Mentoring services are provided by master teachers and award-winning Golden Apple teachers across the State of Illinois.
Schools-of-Need
Golden Apple Scholars are required to sign a contract to teach for five years in a school-of-need in Illinois within seven years of obtaining an undergraduate degree and acquiring an Illinois Initial Teaching Certificate.
A school is designated by Golden Apple as a school-of-need by meeting one of the following two criteria:
Economic Need: An Illinois school that has been listed as having a student enrollment of 30% or more “Low Income” in the School Report Card from the Illinois State Board of Education on https://www.illinoisreportcard.com.
Academic Need: An Illinois school in which the combined percentage of its students who approached, met, or exceeded state standards is less than or equal to 60% according to the report card on file with the Illinois State Board of Education. Please keep in mind the "Fast Fact" portion doesn't show the amount of students who are approaching state standards.
Note: For the 2022-2023 school year, only economic need will be considered.
If a school is not represented on the Illinois Report Card, it is the responsibility of the Scholar to provide documentation that their employment meets the standard listed above and such documentation satisfies the school of need standards as otherwise defined by and in the sole determination of The Golden Apple Foundation.
The expectation is that Scholars teach at a school-of-need for five years. If during the course of that five-year period, that school’s designation changes on the Illinois Report Card, Scholars must reach out to the Director of Placement and Alumni Relations to determine the next steps to relocate to a suitable school of need that meets the criteria stated above.
EMPLOYMENT VERIFICATION
Every Teaching Scholar must complete an Employment Verification form every school year and return it to Golden Apple to receive credit toward completing your five-year teaching commitment. This form requires employment information, a signature and the signature of a school Principal, Assistant Principal, Department Head, Director of Human Resources, or Superintendent.