Posted inCatalyst Chicago, Cover Story, Education

Community groups find teachers in their own back yard

Grow Your Own Illinois aims to solve the perennial problem of high teacher turnover in low-income schools. The initiative, modeled after a program that started six years ago in Logan Square, provides teacher training for parents, community leaders and paraprofessionals who are already active in schools. “We want to help regular people in the community become powerful teachers,” says the program’s director.