EOU participates in statewide initiative, helping to fill need for qualified teachers in schools deemed high-risk

LA GRANDE, Oregon – Eastern Oregon University is doing its part to help remedy the shortage of skilled teachers in the 1,900 schools across the state that are classified as high-risk.

EOU and four other schools within the Oregon University System are participating in the federally funded Oregon Teacher Recruitment and Mentoring project, (OTRM). First implemented in 2002, OTRM provides scholarships to support the recruitment and retention of incoming teacher education students, encouraging graduates to seek employment in high-needs schools across the state.

Over the past four years $295,000 in scholarships has been awarded to EOU education students who have agreed to teach in high-needs schools for a minimum of three years. The scholarships range in amount up to $5,000. If recipients find work teaching in high-needs schools they are not required to repay the loan.

Additionally, $60,000 in support from OTRM has been awarded for the promotion of EOU’s master of teacher education program, student recruitment and project assessment. Teachers are also being trained to serve as mentors to beginning and student teachers working in at-risk schools.

Scholarship recipients who are unable to find positions in high-risk schools are granted a one-year grace period before they are required to pay back the money. The loan remains interest free as long as the amount is repaid to EOU within five years of the conclusion of the grace period. EOU will then use the recovered loans to fund more scholarships for education students.

“The OTRM program is a grand success,” said Michael Jaeger, EOU dean of the College of Education and the College of Business. “It’s a win-win situation because students benefit from the money twice.”

Over the course of the next five years, Jaeger said the College of Education expects to receive a total of $200,000 in re-payments from students who received OTRM scholarships, and the money will again be used primarily to create more scholarships.

EOU also plans to use the final non-scholarship grand funding to develop and publish view books showcasing each high-risk school, many of which are located in rural and low-income areas, with the hope that students will consider these locations when seeking employment. 

EOU Home   |   University Advancement