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December 9, 2015
The Call for Good People in Teaching
Few things in our society convey a sense of status and
success as much as one’s choice of profession. Doctors,
lawyers, bankers – all of these are held in esteem by many
Americans, and they often come with a healthy paycheck
to boot. But I submit to you that there is another profes-
sion which, while perhaps not as lucrative or as flashy, is
a truly noble calling and commands a special prestige all
its own – the teacher.
If you ask any American to name the top five most in-
fluential people in his or her life, chances are a large ma-
jority will have at least one teacher on that list. Teachers
not only impart to young people the basic tools they need
to make their way in life, they are de facto mentors, coun-
selors, coaches, cheerleaders, role models, and – some-
times – parental figures.
If we paid teachers a salary commensurate with the im-
portance of their role in American life, they would earn as
much as doctors and lawyers do. As it stands, though, a
career in teaching brings with it a decent salary and good
benefits. But more importantly, teaching is a labor of love.
Teachers do what they do because they are called to do it,
because teaching pays them on the inside as well on the
bottom line. It’s difficult to find a teacher who hasn’t, at
some point in his or her career, paid for classroom supplies
out of their own pocket, or who has gone above and be-
yond the call of duty to help a student in need.
We need for good people to hear this call and answer it.
Fortunately, there is a growing need for qualified teachers
Cascade
Connections
by Dr. Karin Edwards
in the Portland area right now. The steady influx of new
residents to the Portland area, combined with the pending
retirement of many teachers from the Baby Boom gener-
ation, is creating more and more vacancies in classrooms
across the region. Portland Public Schools estimates that
they will have approximately 1,000 full-time teaching
openings over the next two years.
So – what is the best way for someone to answer this
call? How does one become an educator? The “best” way
is a matter of personal preference, but I can tell you that
Portland Community College offers an accessible, afford-
able, academically rigorous way to start on the journey
toward earning a teaching credential.
The Portland Teachers Program (PTP), based at PCC’s
Cascade Campus, is our region’s premier resource for
training and educating teachers of color for local pub-
lic-school classrooms. Through a unique partnership with
Portland State University, Portland Public Schools, and
the Beaverton School District, PTP students begin their
education at PCC and transfer to PSU en route to a Mas-
ter’s degree and a teaching credential – all at no cost.
And through the Center for Careers in Education – also
based at the Cascade Campus – students can pursue a
transfer degree in education or follow a different educa-
tion-related path, such as a one-year certificate in the Pa-
ra-education program. Para-educators work in support of
teachers, and can choose an emphasis in special education
or working with English language learners. The Center
for Careers in Education also offers a Library Assistant
certification which can be earned in less than one year,
and provides general support and resources for students
pursuing a career in education.
Teaching is among the noblest of professions. It is not
without its challenges and occasional frustrations, but it
offers meaning and personal satisfaction on a level that
few other occupations do. Moreover, teachers can claim
something that few others can – at the end of the day, they
can look in the mirror with the firm knowledge that they
helped make the world a better place.
I encourage you to look into a career in education, start-
ing at Portland Community College. Who knows – maybe
one day you’ll end up on someone’s list of their top five
most influential people.
Dr. Karin Edwards is president of Portland Community
College’s Cascade Campus.
Economic Justice
C ontinued from P age 3
photo courtesy Community Cycling Center
Holiday Bike Drive Legacy
The Community Cycling Center had a very successful 20th annual Holiday
Bike Drive at Legacy Emanuel Hospital Sunday as nearly 300 deserving
children received donated bicycles and helmets. The event has come a long
way since its inception in 1995 when founder Brian Lacy used to gather a
few volunteers, load up his pick-up truck full of bikes, and deliver them to
neighborhood kids.
marched with Dr. King, Julian Bond, Medgar Evers and
other fighters for social justice,” said Larry Anderson, a
member of Portland’s African-American community and
a former Portland Police Officer who is one of the event
organizers.
“I’ve had the privilege of meeting Ambassador Young
several times and I’m really glad he accepted our invita-
tion to speak to the people of Portland about economic
justice,” Anderson said.
Young, 83, started his career as a pastor in Georgia and
through his work with the Southern Christian Leadership
Conference befriended Dr. King. After the assassination,
Young became executive vice president of the SCLC. He
later entered the world of politics and won Georgia’s Fifth
District seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, one of
the two first black Southerners in Congress in the 20th
century.
In 1977 President Jimmy Carter named him U.S. Am-
bassador to the United Nations. After returning to Atlanta
he was elected Mayor and ultimately helped the city land
the Summer Olympics in 1996. Mr. Young is currently
working to find sustainable solutions to eradicate hunger,
malnutrition, lack of education and economic injustice
through his non-profit foundation.
“Ambassador Young is coming to Portland to share the
story of his personal faith journey in the tradition of the
Portland Business Luncheons,” said event organizer Doug
Crane. “And as a businessman, I’m looking forward to
hearing his message about economic justice and how he
teamed up with key influencers in Atlanta to help transform
that city into the amazing international hub it is today.”
In a recent interview, Young described the economics
of poverty as not based on race, but of a lack of jobs, a lack
of education and a lack of health care.
Portland Business Luncheons is a collection of business
people who embrace the religious faith in their lives and
meet together monthly for lunch. The purpose is to devel-
op relationships within the business community to encour-
age one another to carry out the greatest commandment:
love God and love each other.
For tickets and more information about the Dec. 17
event, call Rae Lynn Barela at 503-906-1581 or visit pdx-
lunch.com.