Portland State University announced on June 1 that its redesigned Elementary Education program is preparing a new generation of teachers who reflect the diversity of Oregon’s communities. The initiative centers identity and aims to remove systemic barriers to entering the teaching profession, with a focus on increasing representation among educators.
Issac Graham, a senior in the program, described how parents at Vestal Elementary School approached him directly with concerns because they felt he understood their experiences. “As a parent of kids of color, I know that feeling of worrying that people won’t take your fears seriously because they haven’t lived them,” Graham said. “I get to be the person who says, ‘I hear you, and we’re going to take care of it.’”
The revamped program offers both graduate and undergraduate tracks, including hybrid classes and flexible scheduling options. This approach addresses previous hurdles such as financial cost and time commitment associated with graduate-level licensure requirements in Oregon. Graham credited the undergraduate pathway for making his career change possible: “If this program hadn’t come up, I’m not sure if I would have been able to go down this path.”
Social Emotional Learning (SEL) is a cornerstone of the curriculum. Associate Professor Lauren Vega O’Neil said these practices are intended not just for behavior management but also for creating conditions necessary for learning: “It creates good mental health and an openness to learning, so that students can then focus on academics.” Graham noted how SEL strategies like “opening circles” help foster inclusivity in his classroom.
Another student in the cohort, Samrana Munye, draws upon her Somali heritage while teaching kindergarteners at Vestal Elementary School. She incorporates cultural field trips and uses her linguistic background as part of her teaching strategy. “They know five is shun,” Munye said about counting in Somali with her class. She added: “I know what it feels like to be the student who lacked diversity, who lacked a teacher who advocated for them. Now, I get to be that teacher.” Like Graham, Munye began at Portland Community College before transferring into PSU’s education track.
The first cohort includes 17 students set to graduate this month; nearly 150 majors are currently pursuing undergraduate degrees through the program after over 100 applications were received this year alone. The curriculum also provides an English to Speakers of Other Languages endorsement by default.
Vega O’Neil described graduates as an “amazing, dedicated, informed and responsive” group ready for today’s diverse classrooms. As commencement approaches for its inaugural class members like Graham and Munye, both say their experiences affirm their decision: “If it wasn’t for the teachers of color who advocated for me,” Munye said about her own journey into education, “I wouldn’t be here.”
