OREGON CITY - Clackamas Community College is holding an open house and offering free courses for those interested in becoming a licensed K-12  teacher or early childhood educator.

The college has been awarded its third round of Grow Your Own/Teacher Partnership Pathway grant funding from the Oregon Department of Education to help fill the need for educators in the community and across the state.

In Clackamas County, in Oregon and across the nation, there is a lack of educators who reflect the demographics of their local communities, and there is an urgent need to increase the linguistic and cultural diversity of the local teaching workforce. By focusing on serving diverse future educators in Clackamas County and meeting them where they are, the college aims to develop a teaching force reflective of the community.

Thanks to the Grow Your Own grant, CCC has developed its Early Childhood Education Degree and Certificate program entirely in Spanish. This program allows Spanish-speaking students to complete their program in their primary language, whether it is English or Spanish, so they can provide high-quality early childhood education programs for children and families.

Open House and workshop

CCC's Education Department invites the public to attend an end-of-term Celebration and Winter Workshop on Dec. 1, 5:30-7:30 p.m., in the Wacheno Welcome Center on the Oregon City campus. Participants will receive one-on-one help with class registration and FAFSA/ORSAA and Oregon Student Access and Completion scholarship applications and hear important announcements about winter term and funding opportunities. Attendees will be entered to win one of 25 free tuition vouchers (valid for a course of up to four credits, a value of $468). 

Light snacks and refreshments will be available. This event is open to prospective Education and Early Childhood Education students, as well as those seeking additional help with the registration and financial aid process. Children are welcome to come along to enjoy the snacks and winter cheer. This is a bilingual Spanish and English event.

Free Courses

The CCC Education Department is using some of its grant funding to offer two free courses during winter term. The Grow Your Own grant will cover both the tuition and fees for these courses.

• ED-216 Foundations of Teaching/Ed (four credits, both online and in person) - This course provides an overview of the U.S. educational system including historical, legal and philosophical foundations of education. Students will learn about diversity in educational settings and the characteristics and ethical obligations of effective schools and professional educators. They will also explore career options and pathways in the field of education. This class is for those interested in either early childhood education or K-12 education

• ED-101 Intro Ed Practicum and Seminar (three credits) - This course introduces students to critical topics associated with the education profession. Each topic will be considered on an introductory level with an understanding that future classes will expand student comprehension and knowledge to a mastery level. This class is for those interested in K-12 education.

For more information on any of these opportunities, email Mayla Morgan at mayla.morgan@clackamas.edu. For more information about CCC’s teaching and education programs, visit www.clackamas.edu/teaching-education.