Coordinator Diverse Male Teacher Initiative

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Competitive salary
• Dental insurance
• Employee discounts
• Flexible schedule
• Health insurance
• Opportunity for advancement
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Training & development
• Vision insurance
• Wellness resources

Reports to:

Program Director, GYO-IL Diverse Male Teacher Initiative

Supervision:
None

Location:

Chicago, IL

Status:
Full-Time, Hybrid

Pay Range: $55,000–$70,000

Grow Your Own Illinois (GYO-IL) recruits, supports, and prepares individuals from underrepresented communities to become and thrive as licensed teachers. We envision an Illinois teacher workforce that reflects the rich racial and cultural diversity of its students and is rooted in their communities. To achieve this, we provide candidates with financial and academic assistance, social-emotional support, and culturally sustaining professional development.

Our teachers—and the students, schools, and neighborhoods they serve—are all strengthened by this process. To learn more visit: growyourownteachers.org

This is a full-time hybrid position with regular in-person responsibilities. Office location T.B.D. Regular travel throughout Illinois, including occasional evening, weekend, and overnight travel, is expected for recruitment, candidate support, and community engagement.

The Candidate Coordinator is a member of the Diverse Male Teacher Initiative (DMTI), which is aims to increase the number of diverse males entering the teaching profession. Alongside the Program Director and another Candidate Coordinator, the role will primarily focus on providing personalized advising and support to DMTI cohort members. Approximately 75% of the role comprises candidate advising, cohort meeting support, and participant follow‑up.

The remaining 25% of the role focuses on supporting DMTI’s ongoing recruitment efforts across Illinois -- identifying and engaging prospective candidates, participating in recruitment events, and building relationships with community organizations and other potential recruitment partners, with particular emphasis on Central and Southern Illinois. The Coordinator will work collaboratively with the DMTI team and GYO-IL staff to identify and advance promising partnership opportunities.

Advising The Coordinator will be assigned up to 30 candidates, including both current and new DMTI participants, and will assist monthly meetings which support their professional growth and overall well‑being. The Coordinator will help candidates navigate key milestones along their pathway into teaching, identify barriers to persistence, and connect candidates with appropriate GYO-IL and partner supports.

Recruitment Recruitment enables DMTI’s broader effort to build a strong, sustainable pipeline of prospective male teachers. The Coordinator will identify potential candidates, conduct outreach, and participate in recruitment events. As part of targeted recruitment, the Coordinator will prioritize relationship‑building opportunities with NAACP chapters, community colleges, and other identified partners in targeted areas across Central and Southern Illinois, while supporting recruitment in other communities as opportunities arise.

Rather than own these efforts independently, the Coordinator will collaborate with both GYO-DMTI and GYO-IL partnership development staff.

Advise and maintain regular communication with an assigned group of DMTI participants as they explore teaching and progress from community college toward bachelor’s degree completion and teacher preparation.

Support candidates with community college application and enrollment, transfer planning, financial aid, admissions, educator preparation requirements, and…