The program begins in May 2023 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. 

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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 2024-25 school year.

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.

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.

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.