- East St. Louis School District 189 began the 2025–26 academic year with all teaching positions filled, thanks to a global recruitment drive that brought in 12 international teachers from countries including Ghana, the Philippines, Cameroon, Nigeria, and Thailand.
- The program, modeled after a Peoria district initiative, uses J-1 visas for at least three-year tenures and emphasizes cultural exchange alongside academic instruction to enrich students’ learning and broaden community perspectives.
- New educators like Margaret Eshun and Jeannie Garcines are adapting to U.S. classroom technology while contributing unique teaching styles, global insights, and diverse traditions to foster a more inclusive learning environment.
Students and teachers went back to East St. Louis School District 189 as the new academic year began with a renewed optimism. This time, the district has adopted a new-age strategy of filling teacher vacancies by widening recruitment drives around the world. "The results have been phenomenal", reports Valencia Martin-Hawkins, chief human resource officer of the district. As opposed to last year, when they started with 20 open slots, the 2025-26 school year begins with all posts filled. She termed the effort 'a blessing in disguise' and said she is looking forward to what the future holds, saying that its reach extends beyond learning.
The district is hosting 12 international instructors from Ghana, the Philippines, Cameroon, Nigeria, and Thailand, each bringing their own insight and experience to the classroom. Among them are social studies teacher Margaret Eshun from Ghana and special education teacher Jeannie Garcines from the Philippines, both beginning at Lincoln Middle School. While new members of the community, their passion for teaching is evident. Eshun enjoys watching her students excel, while Garcines hopes that her passion and patience will be an example for her students.
The international teachers are here on J-1 visas and will have at least three years with the district, with the possibility of two additional extensions. The program, modeled after one in the Peoria School District, is not so much about filling a personnel gap it's also about cultural exchange. Martin-Hawkins hopes that the experience of learning from educators with varied backgrounds will have long-term impact, enriching students' education as well as expanding community viewpoints.
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Garcines appreciates the chance to learn new teaching methods and concepts, while Eshun believes teamwork is essential to realizing the district's objectives. Both realize that adjusting to the increased application of technology in U.S. classrooms has been challenging, but both are looking forward to adopting it.
As they settle in, the international educators bring more than just academic instruction they bring stories, traditions, and insights from around the world. In doing so, they help create a more diverse, inclusive, and connected learning environment, making East St. Louis classrooms not only places of education, but gateways to the wider world.
