LTHS Looks To Fill Open Sub, Teacher Aide Positions

LA GRANGE, IL — As Illinois faces a shortage of teachers and other academic professionals, Lyons Township High School says its certified positions are filled. But it is still looking to fill a few open teacher's aide and long-term substitute teacher positions.

CBS Chicago reports that since last fall, the number of open positions in Illinois schools has risen by 28 percent, with 5,301 open positions.

And a 2021 study by the Illinois Association of Regional Superintendents showed 88 percent of school districts were facing a teacher shortage, with 77 percent of districts saying the problem getting worse

In April, Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed a number of bills aimed at addressing the shortage. They included lowering the teacher license renewal fee from $500 to $50, no longer requiring substitute teachers to have bachelor’s degrees and lowering the minimum age for teacher’s aides from 19 to 18.

Lyons Township High School's human resources official, Ed Piotrowski, said the school district is fortunate to fill certified positions with high-quality educators. But he said the school is concerned the number of applicants, particularly for substitute positions, has fallen.

Piotrowski said the district has advertised its open positions on various online job boards, on social media, and at career fairs that the school hosted last fall and at the end of July.

According to the school's jobs webpage, there are currently six teacher's aide openings. Such positions are known formally as paraprofessionals.

The first day of classes is Monday.