Teach Rural Oregon has received a $17,000 grant from foundry10 through the Oregon Rural Classroom Stipends program. The funding will be distributed as one-time $250 awards to 66 new educators working in rural schools across Oregon. These grants are intended to help undergraduate and graduate student educators set up their classrooms, purchase necessary materials, and invest in their school communities.
Foundry10 is an education research organization with a philanthropic focus on expanding ideas about learning and providing direct value for youth. The organization’s Geographically Isolated Youth anchor invests in professional development opportunities for rural educators and supports rural schools with resources related to STEM education, digital skills, technology access, and educator development.
Eastern Oregon University (EOU), established in 1929 as a teacher’s college, currently serves over 2,800 students across 30 academic programs. Its Teach Rural Oregon (TRO) initiative seeks to recruit diverse student teachers—including first-generation college students—to complete their training in rural and isolated districts throughout the state.
According to the press release: “Teach Rural Oregon is thankful for this opportunity to assist rural educators with classroom supplies and is deeply appreciative to foundry10 for this support of our mission at a time when rural schools are struggling to financially provide teachers with quality curricular support.”
The TRO program aligns with best practices for supporting rural schools by focusing on the strengths of these communities while addressing resource gaps faced by educators.
