East St. Louis School District 189

Little Rock Nine member Thelma Mothershed-Wair died this month in Arkansas. She taught in East St. Louis for nearly 20 years before retiring and working at the St. Clair County Jail and Juvenile Detention Center. She was 83.

Despite some progress in recent years, teacher diversity in Illinois continues to significantly lag the growing diversity of the student population.

The program was founded by Brianna Morales — the young East St. Louis teacher named the 2023 Illinois Teacher of the Year last spring.

According to the Illinois Association of Regional Superintendents of Schools’ educator shortage survey from the previous academic year, more than 30% of open teacher, support staff and special education positions went un- or underfilled — the highest percentage in the six years.

Briana Morales, currently doctorate student at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign and a high school teacher in East St. Louis, is Illinois' 2023 Teacher of the Year.

In 2019, East St. Louis reported 36 homicides. The next year, Illinois State Police formed a partnership to help with criminal investigations and community partnerships. Last year, the city’s homicides dropped to 25.

Four Metro East school districts are using the Illinois Tutoring Initiative. The program, funded with state ARPA money, trains tutors to help elementary and middle school students make up for pandemic learning loss.

Smart Start Illinois is the name of the early childhood education program that was announced Wednesday as part of the $49.6 billion budget proposed by Pritzker.

Brittany Green is one of six finalists for the 2022 Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Leadership for her work transforming Gordon Bush Elementary from a failing school to a “commendable” one.

“We do not feel safe,” a parent said during a protest.