EOU welcomes OTP students

High school students from Hermiston, Milton-Freewater, Pendleton, Umatilla and Vale will be on campus October 26 as part of the Oregon Teacher Pathway program.

College of Education hosts Oregon Teacher Pathway high school students

LA GRANDE, Ore. October 21, 2016 – The College of Education at Eastern Oregon University is hosting 53 high school students from Hermiston, Milton-Freewater, Pendleton, Umatilla and Vale as part of the Oregon Teacher Pathway (OTP) program Wednesday, Oct. 26.

The students and their teachers have the opportunity to attend university classes and a library database tutorial, tour the campus and residence halls, and learn about the admissions and financial aid processes. University mentors, and faculty and staff from the College of Education will also take part in the visit.

OTP was created in response to the need to increase the number of culturally and linguistically diverse teachers in eastern Oregon by assisting students as they complete their degree and teacher licensure. As the first collective effort in recruiting, educating and retaining these teachers, OTP is a “grow your own” program that works with high school students to begin discussing the teaching profession and training them in culturally responsive teaching.

The program begins when students are in their junior and senior year of high school by offering dual-credit courses in introduction to education and culturally responsive practices. In this experience, students also are involved in a one hour per week field experience tutoring with elementary school students. The yearlong course is worth four college credits per year.

Students also have the opportunity to work with college professor and mentors, interact with leading scholars in the field of culturally responsive practice, conduct research on related topics, and visit EOU’s campus and attend a college course.

This is the third year of the program and there are currently 16 graduates of the high school component enrolled in education courses at EOU. These students qualify for a tuition discount and in return they agree to become mentors for high school students in their home communities and for fellow college students pursuing teacher education.

For more information visit www.eou.edu/otp.