ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — Rockford Public Schools District 205 has a program that assists student teachers with housing throughout the school year.
Angelique Tejeda is a student at Northern Illinois University. She grew up in Rockford and says she is now proud to be coming back as a student teacher.
She is just one of many student teachers taking advantage of the program, which pays the lease on an apartment within the city.
“They gave me that freedom to where I have that space so that I can focus on my academics because I’m still a full-time college student. And it gives me that quiet area where I can make sure everything that I’m doing for my student teaching is in order,” she said.
Jason Pope, RPS 205’s director of recruiting, said through a grant the district secured the lease on 10 fully furnished apartments through Urban Equity Properties.
“We want to provide them a great experience not only in our classrooms but also in our community. So they really want to make Rockford a home and come here and teach to all of our kids,” he said. “We know if we can get them here in our district to student teach that they’re going to fall in love with our kids. They’re going to fall in love with our buildings and they’re going to fall in love with the community, and they’re going to want to stay and teach.”