Program that targets teachers to areas of need proves popular

A program designed to send teachers to the areas of they’re most needed has proven popular with new teachers at the University of Northern Iowa. Heather Soesbe in the U-N-I Financial Aid office says the program gives students aid if they agree to teach in an area in the state where there’s a teacher shortage in certain subjects.She says they can get up to three thousand dollars a year in aid, beginning with their sophomore year. Soesbe says they won’t have to pay back the money if they follow through on the pledge. She says if they teach in the shortage area, 20 percent of the loan will be forgiven each year.Soesbe says 54 students participated in the program in the 2001-2002 academic year and 98 are participating the current school year.