Six Myths about Alternative Certification Teaching Vacancies and Your Possibilities

1. "There are no teaching jobs out there."

   Here is a list of schools in or near Chicago that had vacancies in August, September, and October of 2010:

   • Addison Trail High School
   • Alcott Middle School
   • Austin Business Charter School
   • Bartlett High School
   • Batavia High School
   • Bloom Township High School
   • Canty Elementary School
   • Chicago Discovery Academy
   • Clark School
   • Cristo Rey High School
   • Curie High School
   • Dulles School of Excellence
   • Dunbar High School
   • Eric Solario Academy
   • Evers Fine Arts School
   • Farragut Career Academy
   • Field School
   • Finkl Academy
   • Highland Park High School
   • Hinsdale Central High School
   • Institudo Health and Science
   • Juarez High School
   • Julian High School
   • Kenwood Academy
   • Kershaw Magnet School
   • Kohn School
   • Lake Zurich Middle School
   • Larry Hawkins Charter School
   • LEARN Charter School
   • Lindop School
   • Little Village School for Justice
   • Major Hector Garcia High School
   • Marconi School
   • Meadowview School
   • Melville Fuller School
   • Metea Valley High School
   • Montini High School
   • Multicultural Arts High School
   • Naperville North High School
   • New Millennium School
   • Pershing School
   • Peterson Elementary
   • Plainfield East High School
   • Prairie Grove Junior High School
   • RIckover Naval Academy
   • Romeoville High School
   • Rosario Castellanos School
   • Rudy Lozano Academy
   • Sayr Academy
   • Scullen Middle School
   • South Loop School
   • Stevenson High School
   • Warren Township High School
   • Wentworth Junior High School
   • William Claude Reavis School
   • World Language High School
   • Zion-Benton High School
     

2. "We must accept wherever Benedictine University 'places' us."

   We work with you to secure a position. We do not "place" anyone.

3. "The only teaching vacancies are in Chicago Public Schools (CPS), 25 miles away."

   Last year, 163 Math/Science openings were publicized in the Chicagoland area.

4. "Internships generally are experiences that provide no compensation for the intern."

   This type of internship is different in that one is hired as a fully-paid, contractual teacher (with benefits, etc.) based on years of experience and academic certification. This is referred to as "Step" and "Lane."

5. "A teacher has to live in the city to be hired and work for CPS, similar to Chicago policemen and firemen."

   Not true, as principals can simply request a waiver for someone they want to hire.

6. "Benedictine University's Alternative Certification Program is costly."

   BenU's tuition is $675 per graduate hour. Almost all graduate fees begin at the $700-per-hour rate.