About

Multnomah Grow Your Own (MGYO) builds career pathways and partnerships to activate the next generation of educators. We provide support, and funding to help participants earn degrees, become licensed, and secure employment in local school districts as teachers, counselors, social workers, or other licensed school professionals.

To be eligible, individuals must:

• Live or work in Multnomah County.
• Express a commitment to working in a Multnomah County school district upon completing your degree and/or license.
• Stay in regular contact with your designated MGYO staff member for support, advocacy, and guidance.

• One-on-one support from dedicated program staff to help you identify the education career path that’s right for you
• Scholarship application support plus direct financial assistance for tuition, books, and fees
• Small, supportive learning communities
• Leadership development programming to prepare you to teach and lead
• Partnerships with colleges and universities to provide licensure programs built for working adults, including online, evening, and weekend classes
• Guaranteed interviews and preferred hiring with local school districts

Our goal is that you have no out-of-pocket costs for tuition, books, and fees. MGYO staff will help you apply for and secure a range of grants and scholarships. Additionally, MGYO will provide up to $5,000 per year to go toward any tuition, books, or fees not covered by other grants and scholarships. MGYO will also fully cover the cost of tuition, books, and fees at Portland Community College for participants who do not yet have an Associate’s degree or who need to complete prerequisites before transferring to a Bachelor’s degree program. Participants are NOT expected to take loans of any kind prior to accessing MGYO funds. MGYO funds are subject to the ongoing availability of grants.

Based on your current education level, MGYO will support you to earn a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree and secure a teaching license for elementary, secondary, Special Education, English as a Second Language, and other teaching specializations. MGYO can also support you to earn a degree and license to be a school counselor, school social worker, school psychologist, speech-language pathologist, and physical/occupational therapist. MGYO staff will help you identify the most direct, efficient, and affordable degree pathway. Participants who do not yet have a degree will complete their Associate’s and any required prerequisites at Portland Community College and then transfer to a Bachelor’s degree program at one of our partner universities. Participants who already hold a Bachelor’s degree will pursue a Master’s degree or license-only program through one of our partner universities. Refer to the MGYO Degree & Licensure Program Info Sheet for more information.

Yes. All of MGYO's degree pathways are designed for working adults, including online, evening, and weekend classes.

Near the end of your teaching degree program, you will be required to serve as a full-time student teacher for at least 15 weeks. This often requires that you take a leave of absence from your employment which can leave you without income. MGYO does not have funds to provide you with ongoing income during this period. However, if you currently work for a school district, your district may have options that allow you to maintain some or all of your income during this period. You should reach out to your district’s HR office or lead contact for educator pathways. MGYO can help connect you with the right people at your district.

Participants must stay in regular communication with their designated MGYO staff person for support and guidance to ensure that they are making steady progress toward their degree. Participants also must remain in good academic standing at their college or university.

We understand that life happens and career goals can change. That said, MGYO's grant funds are limited and we want to help as many people as possible to become licensed educators and help build a stronger, more diverse school workforce. So we ask that you carefully consider your career goals before applying for MGYO. You should have a sincere goal of becoming a licensed teacher or other school professional. If you decide that an education career is not for you at any point, we ask that you let us know as soon as possible so that we can make our resources available to other individuals.

Our schools need skilled, diverse, licensed educators — and after completing your program, that will be YOU! Each districts’ hiring processes and requirements vary somewhat and all individuals must successfully interview before receiving a job offer. MGYO staff will work with you to ensure that you secure interviews in Multnomah County districts and we will advocate for you to be hired and placed into supportive school settings that will set you up to succeed in your new position.

Start dates vary throughout the year based on the degree you choose to pursue. For individuals who do not yet have an Associates degree or who need prerequisites before entering a Bachelors program, MGYO can support you to enroll in courses at PCC as early as the very next term after you join MGYO.