February 21, 2023 3:00 a.m. 

Western Oregon University remains the largest preparer of new teachers in Oregon for the second year in a row.

A WOU release said that is according to the U.S. Department of Education’s Title II report.

WOU graduated 14.56 percent of all licensed teachers in the state of Oregon in 2021-2022.

WOU President Dr. Jesse Peters said, “Preparing educators is one of the strengths of Western Oregon University. This is especially important during times of a state and national teacher shortage. The faculty and staff here provide an inspirational educational experience, and our students graduate incredibly well-prepared to enter the profession and be successful”.

Dean of College of Education Mark Girod said several cores values underlie all their teacher preparation work including justice, equity, inclusivity, service and application of their gifts in the real world. Girod said, “Our shared goals are to improve the world for our communities, the individuals with whom we work, and the world at large”.

The release said according to the Oregon Education Public Employment Report from 2022, WOU-prepared teachers also remain in their jobs in Oregon schools and classrooms longer than educators prepared at other colleges and universities. According to the data, when compared to 3-year retention rates across the State of Oregon, Western teachers are 16.87 more retained.

For more information about WOU’s preparation programs, go to: https://wou.edu/academics/education/

Western Oregon University, founded in 1856 in Monmouth, is the state’s oldest public university.