Rock Valley College Launches Male Teacher Pathway Program to Support Educator Workforce

Rock Valley College Launches Male Teacher Pathway Program to Support Educator Workforce

• Students
• 02/03/2026

Rock Valley College is supporting the future of education through the Male Teacher Pathway (MTP) Program, an initiative that supports men interested in becoming educators and making an impact in their communities.

The program is part of a broader statewide effort to strengthen Illinois' educator workforce by cultivating diverse, community-connected teachers who reflect the students they serve.

The Male Teacher Pathway Program is supported through Grow Your Own Illinois (GYO), a nonprofit organization committed to recruiting and supporting future educators under the Illinois Grow Your Own Teachers Act (110 ILCS 48/1). With funding from the Illinois Board of Higher Education, GYO administers the Disadvantaged Male Teacher Initiative (DMTI), which supports diverse men entering the teaching profession. Rock Valley College, in its role as an Illinois Community College, provides training to students interested in entering the teaching profession and supports the mission of GYO and BMTI.

The Male Teacher Pathway Program provides opportunity, support, and representation. The program helps students explore education as a career while providing the tools and encouragement needed to succeed.

"Rock Valley College's Male Teacher Pathway (MTP) Program is designed to increase enrollment of historically underrepresented (ex: African-American/Black, Hispanic/Latino, Asian) first-generation and underserved males into the Teacher Education pipeline at 2-and 4-year colleges and universities in the State of Illinois through the Grow Your Own Illinois (GYO-IL) organization," said Takeisha Lambert, Dean of Arts Social Sciences.

Students receive academic and transfer advising and mentorship within a cohort of mentors who share an interest in education. The program also helps students prepare to transfer into four-year teacher preparation programs in Illinois and understand the requirements for becoming licensed educators.

The Male Teacher Pathway Program is designed for students who may be exploring education for the first time, including first-generation college students and those from historically underrepresented backgrounds. Students do not need to have a fully defined career plan to participate.

In addition to supporting students, the program invites and encourages male community members to serve as mentors and leaders. Community mentors play a critical role by offering guidance and helping students envision themselves in the classroom.

"Mentorship is the heart of the Male Teacher Pathway Program (MTP). MTP is about more than an academic/tract preparation, it's about developing confident, capable future educators into the underrepresented, first-generation and underserved males pipeline," said William Siaw, MTP Lead & Liaison. "The students grow as leaders, educators, and community change-makers. Mentorship gives students the tools and encouragement to move forward with purpose."

Through the Male Teacher Pathway Program, Rock Valley College is not only preparing future educators but also investing in the strength of local schools and communities.

Community members interested in learning more about the Male Teacher Pathway Program as a student or community mentor are encouraged contact William Siaw, Mentor Lead & Liaison, [email protected] or (815) 921-2195.

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