Teach AgEd - Agricultural Education & Studies

Got a question?

Got a question or comment? Contact Dr. Levon Esters, Teacher Education Coordinator at (515) 294-0897 or E-mail.

Derek Straube, student teacher at Boone High School,
teaches students about balancing feed rations.

Teacher Shortage Areas

The Iowa Department of Education has updated the designated teacher shortage areas for the 2006-07 academic year. Agriculture 7-12 is now on the list. All areas are posted on the Department of Education's Web site at:

http://www.iowa.gov/educate/content/view/799/835/.

If an educator obtained a Stafford Student Loan and/or Supplemental Loan for Students (SLS) while becoming licensed to teach and is employed full-time in a designated teacher shortage discipline, he/she may be eligible for up to three years of deferment. Deferment postpones repayment — it does not cancel Stafford Student Loan obligations. For questions regarding the Federal Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program or deferment provisions, please refer borrowers to a Client Services Representative at the Iowa College Student Aid Commission at http://www.iowacollegeaid.gov/ or at 1-800-383-4222.

In addition to the Federal Loan Forgiveness Program, the Iowa Student Loan (ISL) Teacher Educational Loan Forgiveness Program will forgive up to $9,000 of qualifying educational loans for Iowa residents enrolled at Iowa colleges or universities in programs leading to a degree or endorsement(s) in qualifying subject shortage areas. Students must apply during school (when they are at a sophomore grade level or higher, including graduate students) and will receive loan forgiveness benefits incrementally for five years of teaching after graduation. Qualifying education loans include only loans held by ISL.

For questions regarding the ISL Teacher Educational Loan Forgiveness Program, please refer borrowers to ISL at http://www.studentloan.org/loan-forgiveness-programs/teacher/ or 800-243-7552 extension 7656.

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