EOU debuts trauma-invested teaching program that opens for enrollment this fall
LA GRANDE, Ore. – As families
around the world cope with isolation, ill-
ness and financial hardship, Eastern Ore-
gon University faculty members shaped a
new concentration to prepare teachers to
respond to their students’ needs.
The Trauma in Educational Commu-
nities concentration is the only program
of its kind in Oregon. It’s part of EOU’s
Master of Science in Education program,
available fully online. The new concentra-
tion, which opens for enrollment in fall
2020, offers ongoing education opportuni-
ties for working teachers.
Even before the coronavirus pandemic
struck, Dean of the College of Education
Matt Seimears found that a significant
need for trauma-invested teachers existed
in the region.
“Superintendents were calling me to
ask what we can provide to help with trau-
matized students,” Seimears said. “We built
this because of the demand in our schools.”
A team of EOU faculty began devel-
oping trauma-specific courses in Septem-
ber 2019 and worked collaboratively with
K-12 schools to refine them.
“Faculty are in the schools seeing
things first-hand. Most program develop-
ers never see that,” Seimears said. “We
have the potential to be the leading insti-
tution in the state of Oregon with trauma
and resilience.”
Associate Professor of Education
Amanda Villagómez coordinates EOU’s
Master of Science in Education Program
and led the faculty team. She said many of
the graduate students she works with had
chosen to address trauma in educational
settings as part of their thesis research.
“School districts offer some train-
ing, but they’re often expensive or hard
to access. Plus, we wanted to dig deeper
than a one-time training,” Villagómez
said. “The coursework looks at individual
and systemic traumas. They consider the
intricacies and the role educators can play,
as well as self-care and how teachers who
engage in this work can proactively take
care of themselves.”
Curriculum addresses all student age
groups, from elementary through high
school. Interactive elements and a flexible
start term mean that students can com-
plete all five courses in just three terms.
The content is accessible and applicable
to a range of educational professionals,
from administrators and recent under-
graduates to substitute teachers and those
who’ve spent years in the classroom.
“We always have the lens of how this
affects teachers in our area,” Villagómez
said. “EOU is all about relationships and
that’s a big part of the coursework. A lot
of what EOU stands for aligns well with
principles of trauma-invested care.”
The curriculum development team
was very intentional about addressing
trauma through a culturally responsive and
equitable lens. The College of Education
has made culturally responsive teaching
a priority across areas of study. In light of
current global challenges, that inclusive
approach has become even more valuable.
“The COVID pandemic is magnifying
or bringing trauma to the surface,” Villagó-
mez said. “Certain populations are having
higher rates of impact, and it’s bringing
inequities to the surface. Students who were
stable before have been shaken up by this
traumatic event. All that trauma has come
to the forefront, according to what we’re
hearing from partners and student teachers.”
The College of Education hopes to
expand the concentration into a licensure
specialization. For now, though, teachers
across the region have access to up-to-
the-moment relevant coursework that will
assist them as they navigate the range of
2020-2021 Hunting and Fishing Tags Distribution Schedule
Due to the uncertainties of dealing with COVID-19, Tribal members are
encouraged to call to have tags mailed to them after the first date of tag issuance
(541-444-8227 or 541-444-8232).
Type of Tag
Number
Available
Season
Dates
Date to Start Tag Issuance
Method of
Issuance
experiences students will bring back when
their classrooms reopen for instruction.
More information about the Master
of Science in Education program and
the Trauma in Educational Communities
concentration is available at online.eou.
edu/programs/master-science-education.
About EOU
Prepare for the world beyond college
with Eastern Oregon University’s liberal
arts and professional programs. Classes
are available when and where you need
them – at the main campus in La Grande,
online almost anywhere in the world or
onsite at EOU centers across the state.
Educational, cultural and economic
growth is important to the region, state
and nation. That’s why the university
is committed to providing a personal,
student-centered experience. Visit eou.
edu for more information.
Tribal construction skills
bank being developed
The Siletz Tribe Housing Department
is compiling a list of Tribal members who
are willing and able to work on the work-
force housing construction project that
will commence soon in Neotsu.
The project is funded in part with
Indian Housing Block Grant funds that
require Indian preference in employment
and contracting. The list will be provided
to the contractor and subcontractors who
will ultimately make the decision in hiring.
If you are interested and available to
work, please contact Valerie Hibdon at the
Siletz Tribal Housing Department office –
541-444-8322; 800-922-1399, ext. 1322;
or valerieh@ctsi.nsn.us. You will need to
provide your name, phone number, enroll-
ment number and construction trade.
If you do not have construction expe-
rience, you will be added as a potential
laborer.
Report shellfish
harvests to Natural
Resources
Spring low tides herald clam,
crab and mussel gathering season.
Tribal members using a 2020 Cul-
tural Shellfish Gathering license and
permit are reminded to report shell-
fish harvests to the Tribe’s Natural
Resources Department within three
business days of harvest.
Reports must include the harvest
date, type and number of shellfish
gathered on each trip. To report your
harvest, please leave your name,
phone number and details by calling
800-922-1399, ext. 1227, or 541-
444-8227.
Shellfish safety hotline
Domoic acid levels make clams
and crab unsafe to eat. Before clam-
ming or crabbing, check the Oregon
Shellfish Hotline, 800-448-2474, for
safety and conservation closures.
July 2020
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Siletz News
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