Teacher Residency Program
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Are you interested in....
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Earning your Teaching License in 12 months?
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Interning four days a week with an expert mentor teacher in your residency school?
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Learning alongside a cohort of peers with whom you will work all year?
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Building a relationship with an expert instructional leader in K–12 education, who will advise and support you through one-on-one observation, coaching, and dialogue?
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Receiving priority consideration for a full-time position upon successful completion of the program?
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Doing all of this at a cost that is affordable and includes financial support?
The Teach McHenry County Teacher Residency Program might be the perfect fit! See below for program and application information.
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September Open House Dates






About the Program
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Woodstock Community Unit School District 200, in collaboration with Aurora University, has initiated a teacher residency program for individuals who have bachelor’s degrees in areas other than education who would like to teach but lack an Illinois Professional Educator License.
The program, funded by a grant from the Illinois State Board of Education, will allow candidates to be paired with mentor teachers during the school year while they take their teaching license coursework throughout the school year. Resident trainees will receive a stipend and reduced costs for their tuition.
Residents will be placed in one of District 200’s elementary schools and receive their teaching license with an endorsement in elementary education in grades 1-6 upon successful completion of the program. The 12-month program will begin in May 2021.
People who successfully complete the program will get priority consideration for available full-time teaching positions in the district.
If you have additional questions that are not addressed here or in the FAQ section below, please contact Keely Krueger, Assistant Superintendent for Early Childhood & Elementary Education: kkrueger@wcusd200.org or 815.334.3410.
Click here to view/download flyer.
Application Process
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Minimum Requirements to Apply
- Bachelor’s Degree
- GPA of 3.0
- U.S Citizen, national or permanent resident
The application period for the 2021-22 school year is now open. Please click here to apply via the district's electronic HR system.
Frequently Asked Questions
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When does the program begin and end?
The program begins in May 2021 and lasts for 12 months. During this time, you work as a teacher resident in Woodstock D200 schools alongside a mentor teacher while completing your coursework leading to a Professional Educator License with an endorsement in elementary education grades 1-6. This is the second year for the Teacher Residency program in District 200.
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Do I need to have an education degree to participate or apply?
No. Any graduate of an accredited college or university with a Bachelor’s degree, a 3.0 GPA, who is a U.S. Citizen, national or permanent resident, is eligible to apply for the Teach McHenry County Teacher Residency Program. It is a competitive process, and it is likely that not all applicants will be chosen for the program.
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Can I apply to the Teacher Residency Program if I already have a teaching license?
Residency applicants cannot hold a full Illinois state issued teaching license (provisional and substitute licenses are allowed). If you hold a teaching license from a state other than Illinois, you may still be eligible to apply to the Teach McHenry County Teacher Residency Program.
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Will I need to take any additional prerequisite courses before starting the program?
Possibly - We will review your transcripts to determine which courses were completed for your Bachelor’s degree. In some cases there will be other courses that are required by the state (e.g. US History, Life Science). These prerequisites are available at local community colleges and we will assist in determining what you may need to complete. Please contact Aurora University - Woodstock Center if you have questions regarding prerequisites that may be necessary.
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At the end of the program, will I earn a Master’s degree?
The classes are a non-degree “collection of courses” offering some licensure requirements for a Professional Educator’s License (PEL) with an endorsement in Elementary Education (Grades 1 – 6). The program consists of eleven courses for a total of 38 semester hours of credit.
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What is the process to obtain a PEL?
The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) is responsible for the issuance of teaching licenses, including the PEL. Aurora University and Woodstock D200 personnel will work closely with Residents throughout this process to ensure that Residents are prepared to secure a full-time teaching position for the 2022-23 school year.
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How much is the stipend that Residents receive?
Residents receive a $14,000 stipend with limited benefits during their teacher residency year. Residents also earn a tuition discount on their coursework leading towards a Professional Educator License.
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What does a Resident’s schedule look like?
The program is full-time and intensive. During the summer term, Residents take classes and participate in professional development opportunities during the day. The fall and spring terms are built around the schedule of a teacher, with residents gaining in class experience Monday - Thursday, and taking coursework one or two night courses per week or possibly one course on Fridays. Throughout the program, Residents are immersed in a combination of coursework, classroom teaching experience, embedded coaching, and continuous professional development.
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Where can I go if I have additional questions about the Teach McHenry County Teacher Residency Program?
If you have additional questions that are not addressed here, please contact Keely Krueger, Assistant Superintendent for Early Childhood & Elementary Education: kkrueger@wcusd200.org or 815.334.3410.