Teacher Pathways: Rural Partnerships Pathways Program Mission

Oregon’s rural school districts have experienced teacher shortages, particularly Bilingual and Special Educators. The Rural Partnerships Pathways Program (RP3), as part of Western Oregon University’s Grow-Your-Own Pathways Work and the Bilingual Teacher Scholars Program, allows the College of Education at WOU to partner with the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians and three educational service districts: Douglas, Northwest Regional and Linn Benton Lincoln to develop rural educator pathways . These pathways create opportunities for rural educators to participate in place-conscious degree completion, licensure and added endorsements programs such as English for Speakers of Other Languages or Special Education. RP3 Project Co-Directors, Dr. Maria Dantas-Whitney and Dr. Kristen L Pratt, are “excited about the Rural Partnerships Pathways Program which will allow us to build access and equity in our program delivery and curriculum, as well as connect with aspiring diverse educators in rural parts of Oregon and ultimately, we will see the results in PK-12 classrooms for Oregon children and their families.”

Project Accomplishments

Successfully obtained funding from ODE to support rural educator capacity across Oregon
Identified community partners from the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians and three Educational Service Districts: Douglas, Linn Benton Lincoln and Northwest Regional
Recruited participants for listening sessions with IAs and educators in rural communities as well as tribal partners exploring challenges in accessing degree completion and licensure
Recruited participants to provide input on development of place-conscious approaches to educator preparation
Conducted first round of listening sessions
Designed curriculum infusion framework development for infusing equity initiatives across curriculum
Created lending library that supports curriculum infusion efforts (children’s, young adult, and reference books for students)
Developed pathways and articulations with Community College partners
Developed WOU 2+2 web page and presence
Identified designated advisors with each Community College Partner
Identified hybrid options for courses that have been traditionally synchronous/face-2-face class in the GenEd program
Created course maps for rural cohorts that provides a hybrid/online option
Program planning for distance/hybrid UG Dual Licensure Multiple Subjects and SPED Endorsement
Pilot tested virtual tool offering pathways advising, tracking of candidates’ progress, and connecting candidates to scholarships, professional development, and employment
Conducted second round of listening sessions
Gathered collaborator feedback on project utility for future and current students and partners
Conducted data analysis of listening sessions and will develop change ideas for WOU to implement based on the findings
Finalized virtual tool offering pathways advising, tracking of candidates’ progress, and connecting candidates to scholarships, professional development, and employment
Finalized transfer maps so candidates can easily move from any Oregon Community College to degree completion and licensure pathways at WOU
Finalized recommendations and “change ideas” for both WOU and for the districts/ESDs
Created a formal presentation of recommendations
Developed a plan to move forward in building strong GYO pathways in each region