USI and EVSC partner for Academy of Future Educators program

The University of Southern Indiana, in partnership with the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation (EVSC), is offering a new program open to high school students in the Evansville and surrounding Tri-state area who are interested in pursuing careers in elementary education. The Academy of Future Educators is a half day program housed at Reitz High School and on the USI campus during students’ senior year. 

High school students will have the opportunity to complete a minimum of 18 hours of college credit, complete their freshmen education coursework while still in high school, gain over 150 hours of classroom experience and could save more than $13,000 in college expenses. When they graduate from high school, students will have the opportunity for direct admission into the USI Teacher Education program. 

The program comes as Indiana faces a teacher shortage. At the beginning of the 2022-23 school year, the Indiana Department of Education reported 1,700 open teaching positions, a downward trend of teachers entering the profession in the last decade and an uptick in current teachers leaving the profession.  

Currently, EVSC teacher salary ranges from $41,500 to $80,500 for a 183-day contract, with benefit packages valued from $13,600 to $31,600. Teachers also benefit from more than 15 weeks of non-work time through the year and rewarding retirement benefits. Summer school employment opportunities and athletic coaching positions are also available for additional income.  

To learn more and enroll, visit EVSCschools.com/FutureEdAcademy.