Evolving to Meet the Moment: How EOU’s MAT Program Shapes and Is Shaped by Future Teachers

Evolving to Meet the Moment: How EOU's MAT Program Shapes and Is Shaped by Future Teachers

Evolving to Meet the Moment: How EOU's MAT Program Shapes and Is Shaped by Future Teachers

La Grande, ORE - EOU's Johana Sepulveda carried her community with her when she graduated in 2025. With her Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) in hand, she returned to her hometown of Boardman, Oregon, to teach fourth grade at Windy River Elementary, the same district where she grew up.

"I didn't speak any English when I started kindergarten," Sepulveda said. "I know the challenges my students are facing because I've lived them. That's why I want to provide the kind of support I needed when I was their age."

Sepulveda's journey reflects the strengths of EOU's MAT program: an accelerated, hybrid model that prepares teachers to thrive in rural classrooms. But her experience also illustrates the way student voices continually shape and improve the program itself.

Learning While Leading

The MAT is a demanding 10-month program that blends intensive coursework with full-time classroom experience. Many candidates, like Sepulveda, are already working under restricted teaching licenses when they enroll, teaching during the day and logging into online classes at night.

"It was challenging to balance work and school at the same time," Sepulveda admitted. "Some nights I was energized and eager to learn. Other nights, I was exhausted. But the professors were approachable and supportive. They always made time for us."

That accessibility, she said, was surprising. "They got back to me on weekends, they answered questions quickly, and they made me feel like I could reach out whenever I needed help. That support carried me through."

A Program That Listens

According to Kristin Johnson, Admission and Retention Coordinator for the MAT program, that kind of feedback isn't just appreciated, it's essential. Each year, faculty gather input from students through surveys and an advisory council, then use it to refine coursework, structure, and delivery.

"We are continually improving the program by taking student feedback," Johnson said. "If we're seeing similar feedback from a lot of students, we make that adjustment. We also meet twice a year with an advisory council that includes school administrators, practicing teachers, and our own students. That helps us stay current and relevant in the field so we're not teaching outdated practices."

One of the biggest evolutions has been the program's shift in modality. Today, MAT students spend only one week on campus at the start of the program. The rest of their coursework is conducted online through weekly Zoom sessions and independent study, an intentional design that supports rural candidates who cannot easily travel to campus.

"In the past, students had to come to campus more frequently, which we loved," Johnson said. "But that's just not what our candidates need now. Many are already teaching in their own classrooms, often in rural communities. By reducing the travel requirement, we make the program more feasible and responsive to their realities."

Staying Relevant in a Changing Field

Education, Johnson added, is not static. Best practices evolve as research deepens and student demographics shift. Some approaches stand the test of time; others are discarded as outdated.

"That's why it's so important to stay connected to both our candidates and the field," Johnson said. "Our faculty are still in classrooms doing observations, so they're not removed from the K-12 setting. They see the challenges, the successes, and the changes firsthand. That keeps us relevant."

For Sepulveda, that relevance showed up in practical tools she could use right away. "I learned so much about the science of reading," she said. "I was able to take strategies from class and apply them to my students the very next day. That gave me confidence and helped me grow as an educator."

Rooted in Rural Communities

Now in her own classroom, Sepulveda embodies what the MAT program aims to deliver: prepared, resilient teachers who are rooted in the communities they serve. In Boardman, where many families speak Spanish at home, her bilingual skills allow her to bridge gaps for both students and parents.

For now, Sepulveda is happily rooted in her fourth-grade classroom, but she dreams of teaching Spanish again in the future. "I don't assume students know something," she said. "I approach it in a way that makes it understandable for everyone. That's what language learning should feel like."

"Rural areas don't always have the same resources as bigger cities," she said. "But teachers can bridge those gaps. For my students, being able to ask questions in Spanish makes a huge difference. For parents, it means they're included in their child's education. That's the kind of impact I want to make."

A Program That Grows With Its Students

For decades, EOU's MAT program has launched teachers into Oregon classrooms. Today, it continues to evolve, driven by feedback from students like Sepulveda and informed by the needs of rural schools.

"I was able to apply what I learned right away," Sepulveda reflected. "It helped me become a better educator. And that's what matters most, helping students learn and succeed."

As Johnson sees it, that's the heart of the program's mission: preparing teachers who not only thrive in their own classrooms but also shape the future of the program itself.

"Our students' voices matter," Johnson said. "They help us grow, and in turn, we prepare them to go out and make a difference in schools across Oregon."