At MER, we work in solidarity and partnership with our community to transform the way future BIPOC educators are recruited, supported, and celebrated. Through partnerships with culturally-specific community-based organizations - such as Latino Network - we surface the barriers impacting diverse aspiring educators and
co-develop solutions. We work as equal partners with a shared purpose.
Partnerships allow us to recruit future educators who we would have never known otherwise - including staff from our partner agencies as well as the clients and students they serve. As partners, we meet together regularly, provide coordinated support for participants, and share funding.
Latino Network joined the partnership in 2020 and has been part of every stage of MER’s development. A bit about Latino Network, in their own words:
At Latino Network, we believe in the power of education and community. We are a Latine-led organization deeply rooted in culturally specific practices, dedicated to uplifting youth, families, and our community to achieve their fullest potential.
According to Ana Muñoz, Latino Network’s Director of Community Engagement and Leadership Development, "Education is one of the pillars for prosperity and it should not stop at basic education, it should expand to higher education. We joined the MER partnership because we need educators who look like people from the barrios we serve. Who better than Latino Network to carry them through the journey of becoming certified educators!".
In collaboration, Latino Network and MER have been able to:
Identify and address barriers that impact aspiring educators who are Latinx, immigrants, and/or have limited English proficiency.
Survey Latino Network staff to identify those who aspire to be educators and enroll them in free education courses at PCC.
Develop an MER cohort of Latino Network staff and constituents and provide them college guidance, financial aid resources, career advising, and academic support.
Provide cohort members with direct financial assistance for tuition, books, and fees.
Serve high school students in the MER Summer Academy, with Latino Network employing a cohort of teens each summer who gain teaching experience through paid internships supporting younger students in the agency’s summer programs.
In addition to Latino Network, MER’s community partners include the Oregon Alliance of Black School Educators (ORABSE), The Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization (IRCO), Native American Youth and Family Center (NAYA), and REAP, Inc. MER’s partnership with each agency looks different, building on each partners’ unique assets, resources, and priorities.
Keep an eye out for future newsletters where we’ll profile a different partner each time!
MER helps rising BIPOC educators overcome any barrier in their path, including financial ones. Over the past two years, MER has supported 33 participants to successfully receive tuition aid through the Oregon Teacher Scholars Program (OTSP). OTSP provides $12,000 per year for two years for racially and linguistically diverse future educators. The Oregon Legislature established the program in 2017 to address the state's teacher diversity goals. Today the program is supported by the Educator Advancement Council and administered by the Office of Student Access and Completion, the state’s financial aid clearinghouse...and the program is a GAME-CHANGER!
Zulema Jeronimo is an MER participant and Dual Language Educational Assistant at Hall Elementary in the Gresham-Barlow School District. She's also an OTSP recipient, and she shared this: "OTSP has helped me have one less financial burden to be successful in my educational path!"
By combining OTSP funds with state and federal aid, employee tuition reimbursement, and direct funding from MER, many participants are able to complete their degree with little or no debt. OTSP also recently expanded to support candidates pursuing licensure in school counseling, social work, and psychology.
OTSP transforms the entire financial outlook for future educators - and we hope that the program continues to thrive and grow!
Torian Thompson, Special Education Teaching Apprentice at Helensview School and education student at PCC.
Fartun Osman, Special Education Teaching Apprentice at Helensview School and education student at Eastern Oregon University.
New Report Shows Progress and Persistent Gaps for Oregon's Educator Equity Goals
In September, the Educator Advancement Council released the 2024 Oregon Educator Equity Report, its annual report on progress toward the state’s goal of achieving an education workforce that reflects the diversity of the students we serve. The report highlights gaps and inequities at every stage of the educator career pathway, including higher turnover rates for educators of color, novice teachers, and Special Education teachers. The report also showcases successful projects around the state, including the Grow Your Own programs like MER, that are helping diverse educators complete degrees, earn licenses, and embark on their teaching careers.
Before the meal, when a speaker asked "Who here is part of MER?" it was beautiful to hear the cheers and see more than twenty MER participants, staff, and partners proudly stand and get some love!
