Oregon Community Colleges Collaborate with NACCTEP to Develop Innovative Applied Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary and Special Education

By Julie Ferin, Executive Director, NACCTEP | julie.ferin@riosalado.eduDr. Karla Hale, Dean of Education Programs, Chemeketa Community College | khale@chemeketa.eduDr. Kanoe Bunney, Faculty Chair of Education, Linn-Benton Community College | bunneyk@linnbenton.edu

Tempe, AZ (April 10, 2025) – The National Association of Community College Teacher Education Programs (NACCTEP) is proud to share a powerful example of innovation and collaboration in action.

Last week, NACCTEP Executive Director Julie Ferin welcomed two outstanding Oregon-based members to Rio Salado College for a strategic planning session focused on developing a new Bachelor of Applied Science in Education – Elementary Education, with a special emphasis on Special Education. This exciting initiative brought together Dr. Karla Hale, Dean of Education Programs at Chemeketa Community College, and Dr. Kanoe Bunney, Faculty Chair of Education at Linn-Benton Community College.

The session marked an important early step in a broader statewide effort: a newly formed consortium of five Oregon community colleges working in partnership to respond to critical teacher shortages and expand access to high-quality, affordable teacher preparation across the state.

Discussions during the visit centered around initial program design, a shared needs assessment, and strategies to ensure the pathway is inclusive, student-centered, and responsive to workforce demands, especially in special education.

“This is exactly the kind of collaborative, innovative work NACCTEP is here to support,” said Julie Ferin. “We are excited to see these community colleges leading the way in reimagining what access to a teaching degree can look like, especially with such an intentional focus on special education.”

Dr. Bunney shared, “We are thrilled to be working with NACCTEP as part of our journey toward obtaining an Applied Bachelor's Degree in Education in Oregon. This partnership has been incredibly valuable. We look forward to continued conversation as we move forward together in support of future educators.”

Dr. Karla Hale added, “The support and collaboration we received from Julie Ferin in realizing this vision has been instrumental in helping us move forward.”

NACCTEP remains committed to standing beside our members like Chemeketa and Linn-Benton as they lead the way in building innovative, sustainable teacher education programs that reflect their local communities' strengths, needs, and aspirations.

To learn more about NACCTEP and our support for two-year institutions transforming educator preparation, visit www.nacctep.org.