While they still have 18 months to go, the future teachers enrolled in the Grow Your Own RISE (Rockford Inspiring School and Community Excellence) initiative are off to a great start.
At the midpoint of the fall semester, the students (all current employees of Rockford Public Schools 205 in support roles) are posting a combined GPA of 3.5.
That’s promising news for all involved in the program to deliver NIU bachelor’s degrees in Elementary Education to the more than two dozen Huskies who began their Department of Curriculum and Instruction coursework over the summer.
Partners in RISE include the grant-funding Grow Your Own Illinois, a nonprofit organization that invests in and supports the development of teacher pathways in communities across Illinois, and RPS 205.
Students receive full cost of tuition (with grades of C or better), credit for past work experience, academic advising and completion coaches. In return, they commit to teach in District 205 for five years after their May 2026 graduation.
By then, their service in Rockford classrooms will demonstrate instruction tailored to the culture of their hometown thanks to custom elective courses such as “Socioeconomic and Historical Context of Your Community,” “Community Leadership,” “Community Families” and “Culture of Caring.”
RISE is housed under the umbrella of the NIU College of Education’s PLEDGE (Partnering to Lead and Empower District-Grown Educators) program.
