CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — Education research shows Illinois is needing thousands of teaching positions filled for next school year. With the ongoing teacher shortage — some good news– one district is hosting an event celebrating filling more than one hundred positions.

They hosted a signing day. But instead of an athlete picking between schools on a table — these educators signed their letter of intent to work with the champaign school district. Helping fill essential positions — ones the district — like many others in central Illinois needed.

“We know that outside of parents, teachers have the greatest impact on a child’s learning.” said Golden Apple President Alan Mather.

And going into the 2025-26 school year — there aren’t enough of them in the state. Recent research found there’s almost four-thousand teaching vacancies — and 87-percent of school leaders they talked to say they’re experiencing a teacher shortage.

“Having a classroom that does not have a teacher truly impacts the student’s education.” said Mather.

Mather is trying to prevent this scenario. They offer two programs to help incentivize people to become teachers.

“The scholars recruits high school seniors through college sophomores.” said Mather, “We support them all the way through their undergraduate experience with up to $23,000 in support for them, as well as mentoring in their early years of teaching.”

And if you’ve already graduated they have something for you too. The accelerators program allows people already in the workforce to get a certificate to work in the classroom in 15-months. Mather says they’ve placed teachers in champaign’s district schools — who had a signing day for around 130 incoming teachers.

“The best part for me is watching those smiles as they come up on the stage and the high fives and just the energy that they all give us while they’re coming in here.” said Assistant Director of H.R. Nancy Whitehouse.

The district had more than two hundred openings for this year — and now a majority are filled.

“We have a really great group and they’re bringing a lot of expertise with them.” said Whitehouse.

They say they put an emphasis on special education — hiring 16 into the department. Like Monique Buford — who’s been in the field for over a decade.

“Really found a passion, a love for it.” said Buford, “And that then let me know this is where I belong. And I’ve just been working with that population ever since.”

And she’s ready to bring her expertise to Champaign.

“I’m very ecstatic. I can’t wait.” said Buford.

The district still has positions open. You can look at what’s available and apply here. For more information on Golden Apple’s programs, you can find that here.