Today, that legacy continues to grow. In fact, more students are enrolled in IC’s teacher preparation program than ever before.

Thousands of Illinois College alumni have gone on to become educators, administrators and mentors in schools across Illinois, the nation and around the world. Their impact reaches far beyond their classrooms, influencing generations of young people and helping shape tomorrow’s leaders.

Many have been recognized for their exceptional school leadership, including Jaclynn Wessler Shoufler ’00, who was named the 2025 Herman Graves Award winner; Sarah Heideman Wilson ’02, educator of the year for Jacksonville School District 117; and Kerry Grubb Cox ’86, who was named Superintendent of Distinction in 2017. Others have gone on to earn advanced degrees and teach teachers like Debra Baker Wellman ’78, Ph.D., who retired from Rollins College after serving as professor of education and dean of the College of Professionals, or Vicki VanTuyle ’73, Ed.D., who spent 12 years teaching future principals and superintendents at SIUE.

From traditional undergraduate programs and hands-on field experiences to online licensure pathways designed for working adults, Illinois College is preparing educators at every stage of life. The College continues to meet a growing need for qualified teachers while equipping future educators with the skills, confidence and experiences needed to make a meaningful difference from day one.

Illinois College prepares students to teach in elementary, middle and high school settings and begins field placements in the first year to ensure graduates have a wide range of K-12 experiences. Local districts hire IC grads first and 100% of alumni have full-time teaching jobs right after graduation.

For junior Will Bateman ’27, Illinois College’s mission to prepare educators who make an immediate impact is already becoming a reality.

A biology and education double major, Bateman is one of Illinois College’s Golden Apple Scholars, a prestigious statewide program that supports future teachers who commit to serving in high-need Illinois schools after graduation. Through the program, Bateman will spend five years teaching in communities where qualified educators are needed most, helping address one of the state’s most pressing workforce shortages.

“I want to teach high school biology,” Bateman said. “Because I’m a Golden Apple Scholar, I will teach for five years. After that, I plan to attend grad school and get my doctorate.”

Illinois College’s teacher preparation program is helping him build those skills long before he leads his own classroom. Through field experiences and observation placements, Bateman has already worked with students at Triopia, Jacksonville Middle School and Jacksonville High School. Next year, he will begin student teaching, an experience that could even lead directly to a full-time teaching position after graduation.

While classroom experiences remain central to his preparation, Illinois College also provides opportunities that expand future educators’ subject-matter expertise. This spring, Bateman traveled to the Florida Keys as part of a field-based marine biology course, an experience he says will help him bring real-world examples into his future science classroom.

Bateman represents generations of Illinois College educators who have gone on to shape young lives in classrooms across Illinois and beyond, carrying forward the College’s longstanding commitment to preparing teachers who lead with both expertise and purpose.

Education on-campus and beyond: Licensure programs allow non-traditional students to thrive

A few years ago after partnering with the Golden Apple Accelerator Program, education faculty began exploring ways to make obtaining a teaching licensure more accessible for individuals who already held bachelor’s degrees but wanted to transition into teaching careers. Those conversations led to the creation of Illinois College’s flexible online program that expands access to licensure while helping address Illinois’ growing demand for qualified teachers.

The response has exceeded expectations. 

The program launched with eight students. Within three years, enrollment had grown to more than 40 aspiring teachers pursuing licensure in elementary education, English, mathematics, science, social studies and physical education.

Designed around the realities of adult learners, the fully online program allows students to complete coursework asynchronously while continuing to work, support families and remain in their communities. Faculty members work closely with students throughout the process, helping them navigate coursework, classroom observations and student teaching experiences.

For two recent online graduates and recipients of the Springfield Public Schools Rising Star awards, that support proved invaluable.

After teaching for two years under an emergency credential, Nichole Aiwaz needed a pathway to full licensure that would allow her to continue working in the classroom.

“The people were just genuine,” she says. “I felt like they were really interested in helping students.”

Today, Aiwaz teaches seventh- and eighth-grade language arts at Washington Middle School in Springfield. She credits the program’s practical coursework, particularly classroom management, with helping her grow as an educator.

Ritch King followed a different path.

After nearly 20 years as a business consultant, King decided to pursue a lifelong dream of becoming a teacher. Looking for a program that was both rigorous and flexible, he found Illinois College’s online licensure program and enrolled.

Now a fourth-grade teacher in Springfield, King says the transition has been transformative.

“I spent 20 years doing a job I was good at, but didn’t enjoy,” he says. “Not once did I have the fulfillment that I get from one day of teaching elementary.”

Despite being fully online, King says the program never felt distant.

“It felt like being in a classroom,” he says. “All of the coursework and interactions with the professors felt meaningful.”

That sense of connection remains central to Illinois College’s approach to teacher preparation. Whether students are traditional undergraduates living on campus or working professionals completing coursework online, faculty emphasize mentorship, personal attention and the development of strong relationships.

International experience and hands-on learning elevate Illinois College's teacher preparation program. 

The College's partnerships with local school districts and strong alumni network help future educators expand their understanding of the world and integrate different perspectives into their classrooms. In 2024, six Illinois College students joined six local educators and IC faculty to spend a month in Ecuador. The group engaged in cultural activities, visited various educational institutions, and stayed with host families thanks to a grant from the prestigious Fulbright- Hays Program. One hundred percent of IC graduates participate in high-impact, hands-on experiences like this one that put theory into practice. Students are encouraged to explore their academic interests, whether it be by completing an internship, conducting student-faculty research, engaging in a community project, or participating in study abroad.

The College’s commitment to educators also extends beyond initial licensure. Online Reading Teacher, English as a Second Language and the new Learning Behavior Specialist (LSB1) endorsements help practicing teachers expand their expertise and meet the evolving needs of today’s classrooms.

Together, these programs reflect an educational mission that has remained remarkably consistent since Illinois College’s first education graduates entered the profession.

Schools need teachers who are knowledgeable, adaptable and committed to their communities. They need educators who can inspire curiosity, support students through challenges and help young people discover their own potential.

Illinois College has prepared teachers to do exactly that. 

Whether they’re exploring marine ecosystems in the Florida Keys, completing student teaching placements in central Illinois or pursuing licensure while balancing full-time careers, today’s education students are continuing a tradition that began generations ago, one that will shape classrooms, communities and futures for years to come.