It’s rewarding to be a teacher. You have power to change students’ lives.

As a mentor, you inspire curiosity, creativity and love of learning. Through your efforts, students gain confidence, knowledge and skills to shape the future.

Teachers in Illinois are in demand. In 2024, 62% of education agencies were short on personnel, according to a report from the Illinois Association of Regional Superintendents of Schools. More than 8,000 teaching, paraprofessional, school support and administration positions went unfilled.

The right credentials prepare you to be an effective teacher.

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Is being a teacher worth it?

Teaching is a good career. Working in the classroom is satisfying for people who want to make a difference in student lives. If you are a life-long learner and enjoy flexible work hours, like summer and winter breaks, this job is a good fit for you.

It’s often asked, how much do teachers get paid? That depends on the type of job and the amount of school you have completed.

Some jobs require a bachelor’s degree. Earning a master’s degree or doctorate can increase your salary. So does becoming a school or childcare center administrator.

Besides salary, classroom professionals may have great healthcare and retirement benefits. Other advantages include job security and a dynamic work environment.

Teachers may be eligible for Illinois and federal grants to help pay for college. You also may get student loans forgiven by the U.S. Department of Education.

The College of Lake County (CLC) has financial aid to help you earn a degree or certificate to become a teacher. This includes loans, scholarships, grants and federal work study programs. Learn about financial aid.

It’s possible to spend less on your degree or certificate. If you start your college journey at CLC, then transfer to a 4-year school to earn a bachelor’s degree, you can save $30,000 on tuition and fees alone. Learn how to transfer to a four-year school. You may save even more by taking dual credit classes in high school. Explore dual credit options.

Is teaching a hard job? It can be challenging at times, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic. Even so, 72% of teachers in 2024 said they were glad they chose teaching as a career, found a survey by RAND.

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Types of Lake County teaching jobs

Many types of teaching jobs exist in Lake County and across Illinois. These include:

• elementary school teacher
• middle school teacher
• high school teacher
• preschool teacher, Head Start teacher
• substitute teacher
• teaching assistant or paraprofessional
• school social worker
• social service assistant
• administrator, childcare director
• childcare educator
• nanny
• school bus monitor

How to become a teacher

The first step in becoming a teacher is deciding which student population to work with. Then, you need to earn credentials.

At College of Lake County (CLC), you can earn credentials in:

• Early childhood education (ECE) – infant through preschool

• In addition to programs taught in English, CLC has a nationally recognized ECE program taught entirely in Spanish.

• Elementary education – Kindergarten through 8th grade
• Secondary education – high school
• Special education – children with disabilities

You can earn a career certificate, associate degree, or transfer degree. Many programs can be completed 100% online. In-person classes are held at the Grayslake Campus and Lakeshore Campus in Waukegan. Use class search for class location details.

Some career certificates are stackable, so you can build your expertise over time. Teachers also can attend continuing education programs to learn new skills. Explore continuing education programs for teachers.

Why attend CLC to become a teacher?

At CLC, the class sizes are small with about 15 students. You get personal attention and feedback from instructors. They have real-world experience working in early childhood and K-12 settings.

"You're going to get teachers that pay attention to you, and help you, and guide you much better than you can sitting in a classroom with 100, 150 students,” says John Randolph, principal of Round Lake Middle School.

Randolph attended CLC. He then transferred to Southern Illinois University to complete his bachelor’s degree. Later, he earned a master’s degree from Northern Illinois University. In addition to being a principal, Randolph teaches part-time at CLC.

He says classes at CLC are rigorous. And the individual attention prepares you for success.

“Because class sizes are smaller, the teachers can challenge you more. If there are skills that you're lacking, they can help you even more with those. It's just an incredible college,” says Randolph.

You also have opportunities to learn hands on. CLC has relationships with local school districts and childcare providers. This helps you find a job when you’re done with your studies.

In fact, CLC has developed a teacher pipeline for Lake County. In the education program, you will visit four local schools to observe classrooms in action. Then you’ll meet with veteran teachers and human resources directors to explore next steps for joining the teaching field as a paraprofessional or in other roles.

You can take part in community volunteer programs that address early literacy. And work as mentor with special ed students. By serving as mentor, you earn college credit that counts toward your early childhood education degree or certificate.

You even have opportunities to study abroad.

As a teacher, you have many ways to make a difference. “Education offers so many paths, and it all depends on where your passion is. If you’re going to get into education, the doors are wide open,” says Randolph.

Read more about Randolph's journey to becoming a teacher

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