WEBVTT

00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:07.000
music

00:00:07.000 --> 00:00:10.000
They were very flexible and they were very supportive,

00:00:10.000 --> 00:00:13.000
and they wanted me to finish the program.

00:00:13.000 --> 00:00:14.000
They were very encouraging. 

00:00:14.000 --> 00:00:20.000
Western Oregon University had a history of being like a teacher's school.

00:00:20.000 --> 00:00:23.000
And as a future educator I wanted to be in 

00:00:23.000 --> 00:00:25.000
a place that really valued education. 

00:00:25.000 --> 00:00:30.000
It is such a great program that they offer here at Western.

00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:35.000
We work very closely in partnerships with districts, with ESD's, 

00:00:35.000 --> 00:00:39.000
and also our community colleges all over Oregon 

00:00:39.000 --> 00:00:44.000
to create plans that meet the needs of students who are

00:00:44.000 --> 00:00:48.000
in different regions going through the different community college. 

00:00:48.000 --> 00:00:50.000
music

00:00:50.000 --> 00:00:54.000
And I loved how I connected with students of any age.

00:00:54.000 --> 00:00:57.000
And I was like well, I think this is the career path I that want to follow on. 

00:00:57.000 --> 00:00:62.000
And you really don't feel like you're alone through it all. 

00:01:02.000 --> 00:01:06.000
You have people cheering for you. 

00:01:06.000 --> 00:01:10.000
We have advisors who travel to those regions,

00:01:10.000 --> 00:01:12.000
who meet with potential students, 

00:01:12.000 --> 00:01:16.000
to make sure that transition is really seamless

00:01:16.000 --> 00:01:21.000
If something needed to done during school hours and I was at work,

00:01:21.000 --> 00:01:26.000
they were very understanding with that and being flexible with me being

00:01:26.000 --> 00:01:30.000
not a student first but also having to work.  

00:01:30.000 --> 00:01:35.000
That's the objective of this program is to be able to hold space 

00:01:35.000 --> 00:01:39.000
for folks who have different life demands to still earn a high quality

00:01:39.000 --> 00:01:43.000
college degree that provides teacher licensure at the highest level. 

00:01:44.000 --> 00:01:49.000
Graduating from Western is a prestigious opportunity to graduate from one of the best.

00:01:49.000 --> 00:01:52.000
Even though you struggle you can achieve your goals.

00:01:52.000 --> 00:01:53.000
Like you just have to work really hard towards it. 

00:01:53.000 --> 00:01:57.000
I think I can do this and just the support that I received and I was like,

00:01:57.000 --> 00:01:59.000
ok, I need to be a teacher.

00:01:59.000 --> 00:01:64.000
A lot of opportunities for academic enrichment, academic support.

00:02:04.000 --> 00:02:10.000
I am part of a TRIO program that serves first generation students,

00:02:10.000 --> 00:02:14.000
students with documented disabilities and students of low-income background.

00:02:14.000 --> 00:02:20.000
And I've been able to get individualized advising, mentorship,  

00:02:20.000 --> 00:02:24.000
and support for different classes that I've been taking that.

00:02:24.000 --> 00:02:27.000
And it's really helped because it provides and additional community. 

00:02:27.000 --> 00:02:31.000
We have had our Bilingual Teacher Scholars program. 

00:02:31.000 --> 00:02:35.000
Just this year, we are expanding that program

00:02:36.000 --> 00:02:38.000
and creating a new category of scholarship,

00:02:38.000 --> 00:02:41.000
the Diverse Teachers Scholars.

00:02:41.000 --> 00:02:44.000
Being a teacher you need a really good support system in order to continue. 

00:02:44.000 --> 00:02:48.000
It's very important to connect with your professors and your teachers. 

00:02:48.000 --> 00:02:51.000
And that's completely doable here at WOU as well.  

00:02:51.000 --> 00:02:54.000
We work really hard in the College of Education to stay connected. 

00:02:54.000 --> 00:02:58.000
The Aspiring Teachers Association is something that me and a 

00:02:58.000 --> 00:02:60.000
couple of other ed majors started this year. 

00:03:00.000 --> 00:03:03.000
We started because we wanted a place

00:03:03.000 --> 00:03:05.000
where you could give each other feedback

00:03:05.000 --> 00:03:07.000
and where you could learn from each other. 

00:03:07.000 --> 00:03:11.000
Since we have such close relationships with the school districts

00:03:11.000 --> 00:03:13.000
through this Grow Your Own Pathway, 

00:03:13.000 --> 00:03:18.000
very often they get early interviews with their districts

00:03:18.000 --> 00:03:20.000
because they are part of this program. 

00:03:20.000 --> 00:03:24.000
I would tell future BTS students and teachers,

00:03:24.000 --> 00:03:28.000
future teachers, to stay focused, stay connected.

00:03:28.000 --> 00:03:34.000
Friends and professors really make the ride a lot easier. 

00:03:34.000 --> 00:03:39.000
I think that you really have a place for everyone at WOU. 

00:03:40.000 --> 00:03:53.000
music