Share your love for math and science! Become a Math or Science teacher with AUSL and receive the experience and support necessary for success and the opportunity to continue to positively impact hundreds of students across Chicago.

Today, the U.S. faces a daunting crisis — a critical deficit in well-qualified science and mathematics teachers. Despite a number of initiatives presented by the U.S., progress has been slight in addressing the dire shortage for mathematics and science teachers. These efforts, although necessary, are insufficient to reverse the downward spiral of mathematics and science education across the U.S.

The need for highly qualified mathematics and science teachers has reached the critical stage. Chicago Public Schools, along with the rest of the nation, will need to hire an increasing number of math and science teachers over the next few years. According to Business-Higher Education Forum in Washington, it is estimated that this country’s public schools will need over 200,000 mathematics and science teachers over the next decade.

The number of children in Chicago who are academically prepared for college work in mathematics and science has declined over the past decade. For example: The Prairie State Achievement Exam, given to all high school juniors, measures academic readiness for college using math, science and writing indicators. The number of students in Chicago prepared for college work in math hovers under 30% while science readiness is approximately an abysmal 25%. (Illinois Kids Count 2009) This trend is even more apparent in Chicago’s high poverty neighborhoods.

The Academy for Urban School Leadership attempts to address this growing problem by recruiting mathematics and science candidates to our Urban Teacher Residency program. AUSL’s residency program will train individuals with an academic background in math and/or science to teach at the secondary level. Candidates will earn a Master’s degree in Secondary Education and a certification to teach mathematics or science while engaging in hands-on teaching with a mentor teacher in an AUSL managed urban classroom.

If you are passionate about teaching mathematics or science, please consider applying to the AUSL Residency program. You can attend one of the special mathematics and science information sessions to learn how you can get started.

Click here to see the Illinois State coursework requirements to become certified to teach in mathematics and science with AUSL.

AUSL is eager to support applicants interested in teaching secondary math, but who do not yet have the full 32 semester hours of college-level mathematics course work required to meet the Illinois state standards for teacher certification and thereby qualify for admission to our program. For secondary math candidates who complete the interviewing portions of our admissions process successfully, AUSL will provide tuition and test fee reimbursement of up to $3000 to repay you for your costs to enroll in courses and/or fees for placement tests. If you are interested in participating in this special program, call Kathy Sosa-Tandoc at 773-534-0129.

If you have more questions about the AUSL teacher training and residency program, please refer to our FAQ section of the website, attend an upcoming information session, or call us at (773) 534-0129.