Ag Teachers in Demand
Illinois agriculture teacher jobs remain unfilled despite the largest number of ag ed graduates in nearly 20 years, a state ag education leader reported. And the number of openings may grow before school starts in the fall. By mid-May, 50 ag teaching positions were open across the state. Schools have hired teachers to fill 33 of those jobs, leaving 17 still open, said Dean Dittmar, coordinator of Facilitating Coordination in Agricultural Education. One bright note, the most ag education students, 38, just graduated from the four state ag universities in last 19 years. Dittmar shared 26 of those graduates are starting teaching careers while five either accepted non-teaching jobs or will attend graduate school. For more information visit www.ILAgEd.org.