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Applications open for Golden Apple’s Scholars and Accelerators teacher preparation programs

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Aspiring teachers encouraged to apply to programs aimed at addressing Illinois’ teacher shortage crisis 

ILLINOIS – Golden Apple, a non-profit committed to preparing, supporting and mentoring aspiring teachers, is accepting applications for both its Accelerators and Scholars programs. Through these programs, Golden Apple seeks to provide pathways for aspiring educators to enter the profession and fill crucial open teaching positions across the state. 

Illinois faces an ongoing teacher shortage crisis, leading to classrooms lacking the highly-effective, well-qualified educators our students deserve. A report earlier this year from the Illinois Association of Regional Superintendents found that there were more than 4,000 teaching positions unfilled for the 2023-2024 school year, with 91% of school leaders indicating experiencing a teacher shortage. 

“Recruiting the new cohorts of our Scholars and Accelerators programs is always an exciting and meaningful opportunity for our team to engage with hundreds of aspiring educators who have the passion for shaping our next generation,” said Golden Apple President Alan Mather. “These programs not only provide pathways to the classroom, but they also represent a pathway to a future where every student has the teacher they deserve. We encourage all of those looking to make a meaningful difference in their community to apply today!”

The Scholars program focuses on teacher preparation and tuition assistance for high school seniors as well as freshman and sophomore college students in Illinois who have the determination and drive to teach. Scholars receive up to $23,000 in financial assistance, extensive classroom teaching experience, academic and social-emotional support, job placement assistance and mentoring from Golden Apple’s award-winning teaching faculty. There are nearly 2,000 Scholars active in the program, with four out of every five staying in teaching for five years or longer. Throughout the history of the program, half of Scholars have been people of color, and over 60% of Scholars are from underserved populations.

“On the heels of welcoming our largest ever classes of Scholars and Accelerators earlier this year, we are thrilled to open applications for our next cohorts of both programs,” said Golden Apple CEO Alicia Winckler. “Golden Apple has a proven record of building the teacher pipeline and supporting students in achieving their dreams. We encourage motivated and high-potential, aspiring educators from across the state to apply!”

The Accelerators program is a 15-month teacher residency and licensure program that expedites the preparation of highly-effective teachers in areas-of-need throughout the state. Geared toward career changers with a bachelor’s degree and current college students not already on a teaching path, program participants take courses at a partner university, receive instruction from established educators, and work with mentors who provide ongoing support throughout the school year and into their first years of teaching. Accelerators receive a $10,000 stipend and have their university-based licensure tuition and fees funded by the program. Since the program began in 2020, Accelerators taught in over 70 school districts across 45 counties in Illinois. 

In 2023, Golden Apple received a historic increase in funding from the State of Illinois that allowed them to significantly increase the number of aspiring educators admitted to their Scholars and Accelerators programs each year. In Spring 2024, Golden Apple inducted 430 Scholars into the program, its largest in the history of the program, and inducted over 180 Accelerators, a cohort four times larger than the previous year’s. This level of state funding was maintained in the FY2025 state budget, allowing the organization to recruit similar cohort sizes this year. Golden Apple is committed to expanding the pipeline of organization-prepared teachers to more than 2,000 this year, teaching in 90% of Illinois counties.  

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To learn more and apply for either the Accelerators or Scholars program, interested parties can visit www.goldenapple.org/accelerators and www.goldenapple.org/scholars

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CUSD 7 News

Miners girls basketball clinch SCC championship

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In a nail-biting showdown that will be remembered for years to come, the Gillespie Miners girls basketball team captured the South Central Conference title with a hard-fought 55-52 victory over the Pana Panthers on Thursday night, February 13. This marks Gillespie’s first conference championship since their back-to-back titles in 2001-02, when they shared the honors with Southwestern both finishing with a 9-1 conference record.

The game held at Pana High School was anything but straightforward. After a tumultuous 13-minute delay due to injuries and a technical foul controversy, the Miners rallied their spirits to secure the win. Amari Vickery led the charge with a stellar performance, scoring 21 points, while Mia Brawner added 11, Maggie Heyen contributed 10, Delaney Taylor posted 5, Sadie Sholtis scored 4, and Lainey Edwards and Corrine Fellin each had 2 points.

From the opening tip, it was clear that Pana was not going to roll over easily. The Panthers held leads at the end of the first two quarters, 15-14 and 28-26, showcasing their tenacity. By the time the fourth quarter rolled around, Pana had edged ahead 44-42, setting the stage for a dramatic finish.

However, the game took a chaotic turn in the fourth quarter when a collision between Vickery and teammate Sloane Brawner resulted in both players going down with injuries. Sloane was not able to return the game but Vickery did. The Miners also lost both Delaney Taylor and Sadie Sholtis to fouls and Gillespie was assessed a technical foul under controversial circumstances which tied the game at 49. But Heyen carried the weight through the fourth quarter recording 6 of her 10 points in the final quarter of play.

Despite the setbacks, the Miners displayed remarkable teamwork resilience under the leadership of Nikki and Matt Brawner. With the SCC championship secured and the regular season concluded with a 22-8 overall record and 9-0 conference record, the Miners now shift their focus to the upcoming regional which is being hosted in Gillespie.

Gillespie hosts Alton Marquette on Monday, Feb. 17 for the regional semi-finals after Alton Marquette knocked East-Alton Wood River, 36-29, to face the Miners. The winner advances to the regional championship that will be played on Friday, Feb. 21 at 7 p.m. in Gillespie versus the winner of Staunton/Roxana.

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Community News

Macoupin County residential fire claims multiple victims on Saturday

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Tragedy struck in the early hours of Saturday morning in Macoupin County as a residential structure fire broke out in the 200 block of West Dean Street, Virden, resulting in the death of a male victim, the Macoupin County Coroner Anthony Kravanya announced.

The individual was pronounced deceased at 10:06 AM but the identity of the deceased has not yet been released, as authorities await the results of an autopsy scheduled for Monday, February 17, 2025. The coroner’s office indicated that a press release will be issued following the autopsy and the positive identification of the victim.

WAND reported a second victim died after being transported to Springfield Memorial Hospital according to Sangamon County Coroner Jim Allmon who confirmed a 13-year-old boy and a 34-year-old male were the victims.

The fire reportedly started around 9:30 a.m. and the home was fully engulfed when first responders arrived. Two people were reportedly rescued and life flight was requested but were not available due to the foggy weather conditions. 

An investigation into the cause of the fire is currently underway, involving multiple agencies including the Macoupin County Coroner’s Office, the Virden Police Department, the Macoupin County Sheriff’s Department, and the Office of the State Fire Marshal.

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Community News

Missions group to host trivia fundraiser on March 30

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Come and join us for an exciting afternoon of trivia as we support our local 2:18 Missions! Mark your calendars for Sunday, March 30 from 2 to 5 PM for an event that promises fun, camaraderie, and a chance to make a difference in our community. The event will be held at DeStefane Community Center in Benld, 201 East Central Avenue.

Teams of up to 10 people can participate for just $100 per table. Whether you want to reserve your table in advance or simply show up on the day of the event to pay at the door, we welcome all trivia enthusiasts to join in the competition!

Feel free to bring your own snacks and drinks to enjoy during the game—just please remember, no alcohol is allowed. For your convenience, we will have bottles of water available for purchase.

The stakes are high, and the competition is fierce! The first-place team will take home a prize of $150. Plus, bring some dollar bills to participate in “Heads and Tails” games during breaks and to buy mulligans for your team.

Don’t miss out on this fantastic opportunity to support a great cause while enjoying a lively trivia challenge. To reserve your table or for more information, contact Kristin at 217-691-7469.

Let’s make this a memorable event for our community and the 2:18 Missions!

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