For Immediate Release
Monday, August 26, 2019

Partnership with Spain brings 138 bilingual teachers to Illinois schools 

​Exchange Visitor Teacher Program promotes cultural exchange and relieves bilingual teacher shortage ​

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) announced today that 138 bilingual educators from Spain will work in Illinois classrooms in the 2019-20 school year as part of the Exchange Visitor Teacher Program. The total includes 63 new and 75 returning bilingual educators in 19 Illinois school districts. ISBE partners with the Spanish Ministry of Education and Culture to promote cultural exchange with Illinois communities and place bilingual educators in our local classrooms, as part of the Exchange Program of the U.S. Department of State. This is the 22nd year that Illinois has participated in the program. 
 
“Engaging with teachers of different cultures, ethnicities, and linguistic capabilities benefits all students as they prepare to enter a global society,” said State Superintendent of Education Dr. Carmen I. Ayala. “ISBE is proud to host our international visiting teachers and to show them the beauty and hospitality of Illinois communities. Bilingual educators play a critical role in preparing our increasingly diverse and multilingual students to thrive in college and career.” 
 
All teachers participating in the Exchange Visitor Teacher Program have at least two years of teaching experience in their home country. Representatives from participating Illinois school districts travel with representatives from ISBE to Spain each spring to recruit candidates. Participating teachers can choose from among 30 states and three different countries for a commitment of one to five years.  
 
Unfilled positions for bilingual educators make up approximately 12 percent of the total teacher shortage in the state. ISBE increased the number of Spanish educators who chose Illinois as their destination for the program by 21 and the number of participating Illinois school districts by two, compared to last year.  
 
The school districts hosting Spanish educators through the Exchange Visitor Teacher Program in the 2019-20 school year are:
  
  • Beach Park SD 3 
  • Chicago Public Schools 299 
  • Crystal Lake ESD 47 
  • CUSD 300 
  • East Aurora SD 131 
  • Elgin SD U-46 
  • Freeport SD 145 
  • Grayslake CCSD 46 
  • Harvard CUSD 50 
  • LEARN Charter School Network 
  • Monmouth-Roseville CUSD 238 
  • North Chicago CUSD 187 
  • Posen-Robbins SD 143.5 
  • Rockford Public Schools 205 
  • Schaumburg SD 54  
  • Summit SD 104 
  • Waukegan CUSD 60 
  • Woodland SD 50 
  • Woodstock CUSD 200  
Find more information about the Exchange Visitor Teacher Program at www.isbe.net/exchange. 

Share!