Pendleton, OR – The Oregon Trail Regional Educator Network is a network of teachers, administrators, and community partners who work together to support open access to high-quality professional learning. The Oregon Trail Regional Educator Network (OTREN) was established in 2017 along with nine other RENs serving districts across Oregon. OTREN serves 21 districts and thousands of educators by funding professional development designed to improve systems that support K-12 educators. OTREN’s funding priorities are informed by a group – the Coordinating Body – that meets on a quarterly basis to assess programming and make decisions for the region’s teachers that are responsive to local context and need. The Coordinating Body is comprised of teacher representatives from each of its 21 regional schools, as well as administrators, representatives from higher education, and community partners.
OTREN’s Coordinating Body convened for its final gathering of the year on May 13th at the Pendleton IMESD to celebrate successes, review the network’s plan for 2025-2029, and help plan some of the network’s largest upcoming professional learning opportunities, which include Summer Series and next fall’s Professional Development Summit.
Additionally, school district representatives shared about the impact OTREN funding has had in their districts to fund implementation of core training to support student success. Baker School District, for example, shared about their implementation of the Studer Education Model in their district. The Studer Education model is a framework that incorporates nine key principles to empower leadership and create conditions where students can thrive academically.
The Coordinating Body will resume its quarterly meetings next fall.