Local solutions to a looming teacher shortage

Four-year colleges and universities were too far away for a practical commute from Silverdale. She spoke with her teacher friends who urged her to look into a unique teacher education program from Western Washington University’s Woodring College of Education, which was based in Bremerton and located on the campus of Olympic Community College. She met with Michael White, the program coordinator, who explained that to be eligible for this program, she must have an associate of arts degree or the equivalent.

White helped her chart out a course that would earn her an associate of arts degree at Olympic College in approximately 18 months, in time to join a cohort of students like herself, who would begin Western’s Elementary Education Program.