EOU welcomes 76 high school students for Oregon Teacher Pathway Day

EOU welcomes 76 high school students for Oregon Teacher Pathway Day

LA GRANDE, Ore. — Oct. 22, 2025 — Approximately 76 high school students from the Pendleton, La Grande, Baker, Umatilla, Pilot Rock, Milton-Freewater, and Wallowa school districts visited Eastern Oregon University (EOU) to explore teaching careers through the Oregon Teacher Pathway (OTP) program.

OTP is EOU’s “grow-your-own” dual-credit pathway that recruits, educates, and retains future teachers, especially those committed to culturally responsive practices and serving rural communities. Students complete a year-long high school course for four EOU credits, meet faculty and mentors, and learn about the next steps to become teachers.

“I learn from these students every time we’re together,” said Tawnya Lubbes, director of OTP. “They’re passionate about improving education, often because of powerful personal experiences, and they want to make a difference. Through OTP, they earn college credit, connect with mentors, and, when they choose EOU, receive a 25% tuition discount. We’ve seen a 92% retention rate in the program, and about 85% of our alumni return to teach in their home districts.”

Students said the on-campus day made college and career pathways feel tangible. Judah Elliott of Milton-Freewater shared, “I like working with people, especially kids. Learning is important for all of us, and being able to teach and inspire people is something I’d like to do.”

Christina Jones of Wallowa added, “I’m interested in early elementary teaching. I was really looking forward to understanding the financial side and asking mentors how college classes compare to what we’re taking now.”

The Oregon Teacher Pathway addresses the statewide teacher shortage by partnering with districts to build a diverse, well-prepared pipeline of local educators. Research shows students benefit when they learn from teachers who share their backgrounds or are trained in culturally responsive practices, core goals of OTP.

For more information about the Oregon Teacher Pathway at Eastern Oregon University, or to explore how districts can partner with EOU, contact the College of Education.