DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) - Decatur Public Schools is preparing to welcome 70 new teachers this fall.

DPS61 hired 66 new certified staff this spring as the district works to address vacancies amid a nationwide teacher shortage.

Among the new hires, 44 international teachers will join the district as part of a new initiative to bring qualified educators to central Illinois.

"They are going to make sure that they understand the DPS way. They're going to understand our teaching methods," said Monica Wilks, Director of Human Resources for DPS61.

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