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ISBE celebrates success of teacher recruitment marketing campaign

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) — The Illinois State Board of Education is celebrating the success of a recruiting program designed to alleviate the ongoing teacher shortage. ISBE's 'The Answer is Teaching' campaign focused on recruiting teachers by sharing testimonies and individualized support. The $6 million media campaign advertised in both Spanish and English to potential teachers in urban and rural areas along with neighboring states. Rantoul Superintendent discusses Dept. of Education cuts From the campaign's duration — the beginning of July to the end of January — the agency was contacted by more than 17,000 potential teachers from many walks of life. 'The outpouring of interest in teaching in Illinois tells us people at many different stages of life want a career with great benefits, competitive pay, and personal fulfillment,' State Superintendent of Education Dr. Tony Sanders said in a statement. 'At ISBE, we are committed to not only raising awareness about the benefits of teaching in Illinois but also removing barriers whether financial, informational, or logistical that may stand in a candidate's way.' This comes after the latest annual teacher shortage report, which found a 5.6% decrease in the number of unfilled positions statewide. The marketing campaign targeted common areas with many vacant positions like bilingual teachers, special education teachers, urban and rural teachers. 'It's a global problem': Central IL districts, administators, react to school vacancy report 'We don't just want more applicants to the school districts and the subjects that are already getting a lot of applicants,' Jackie Matthews, the Executive Director of Communications, said in a statement. 'We want to attract and make sure that our teacher supply is matching the demand. In the last two years, Illinois has invested $45 million in teacher vacancy grants to help school districts hire and retain teachers. The website for the campaign will remain active. Those interested in applying can still submit their contact information to get personalized emails and more resources on the steps needed before becoming a teacher in Illinois. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.