The David Douglas School District presented its Grow Your Own (GYO) educator pipeline year-end report at the June 12 board meeting, highlighting program graduates, current participants and local hiring. Speakers and program participants described classroom work that the district said aims to increase teacher diversity by providing tuition assistance, practicum placements and pay/stipend supports for participants pursuing teaching credentials.

Nut graf: While the district celebrated 14 recent GYO graduates and 46 active participants, staff and the superintendent said a state budget proposal moving through the Ways and Means process would eliminate state funding for Grow Your Own. That potential cut would reduce a source of tuition and pathway support the district relies on for diversifying its workforce.

Program staff and participants described outcomes and pathways. District staff said 14 participants graduated from the program this year and that 46 people are enrolled across the district. Speakers noted that 10 high-school graduates were hired as GYO summer interns, 8 of those 10 are multilingual, and 10 of 10 identify as BIPOC. Teacher-educator participants described classroom strategies, relationship-based teaching and measurable student gains in math and literacy.

Tay (presenter name in packet) and Andreina Velasco were identified by staff as leaders in the program; Jazzy Griffin, Didi Bradley and Princess Moreno (a 2025 high-school graduate and GYO intern) spoke about their classroom experiences and plans to continue in district teaching roles. Jazzy Griffin, an eighth-grade teacher and first-year instructor in the district, said she saw “real academic growth” in her students and described practices she uses to support learners who started several grade levels behind.

District leaders told the board the state budget proposal under consideration by the Legislature would remove Grow Your Own funding. Superintendent Ken Richardson said the district had planned to meet with the Oregon Department of Education and advocacy partners to press for continued funding; he said he and staff would pursue next steps. "Right now, it's eliminated funding for grow your own, not reduced funding for grow your own, but eliminated funding for grow your own," Richardson told the board.

Ending: Program leaders and participants asked board members and the public to watch the state budget process and contact legislators to advocate for restoring Grow Your Own support.