February 18, 2015 Update

TRI's Traffic Safety Education Program to Co-host Driver & Traffic Safety Conference

Over 250 driver education instructors from throughout the Pacific Northwest will be attending the 2015 PacNW Driver & Traffic Safety Conference in Portland on February 27-28 and March 1. TRI's Traffic Safety Education program organizes the conference and co-hosts it with the Transportation Safety Division of the Oregon Department of Transportation.

The conference features keynote sessions by nationally acclaimed speakers and numerous workshops and presentations by regional experts in driver and traffic safety education. Attendees will gain new information and insights on topics pertinent to the field, interact and exchange ideas with fellow driver education professionals, and earn continuing education credits toward renewing thier certification. The 3-day conference offers opportunities for professional growth as well as time for networking with colleagues throughout the region.

Read more. . .

Child Development Center Awarded Diversity Grant

The Teaching Research Child Development Center (CDC) was awarded $250 to continue providing an inclusive and culturally and linguistically responsive environment for all children, families, CDC staff, university faculty, staff, students, and volunteers.

The award money will be used to purchase new materials such as children's books in the four different languages spoken by children in the program. In addition, the program will replace outdated materials such as dolls and play kitchen items to reflect authentic, non-stereotypical roles.

The children, families, and staff of the CDC wish to thank the University Diversity Committee at WOU for allocating grant funds toward achieving our goals of an inclusive and welcoming environment.

Read on the website. . .

Abby's House App: A Student's Perspective

by Taylor Leech

We have all heard the horror stories about the assault that can happen in college, so naturally I was worried when I first came to WOU. Luckily, I learned about Abby's House and all of the great services they provide. Not only do they provide resources for sexual violence, but they also have information on a multitude of subjects like women's health, depression, and gender identity. And now they have the Abby's House mobile app that brings even more peace of mind with resources and services for dating violence and sexual assault available at your fingertips!

My favorite parts about this app are the quick tips and articles under the "Home" tab. Before reading the section under this tab on reporting and incident, I had no idea there was an anonymous report form available at WOU, which the app has a link to. These forms provide data regarding incidences of sexual and dating violence of students on or around campus, help the staff at WOU plan a response to violence of students, and give an understanding of the campus atmosphere. All of these things are important for taking steps to bring awareness to sexual assault on college campuses, and hopefully someday eliminate it.

Read more. . .

QRIS Data Facts

Oregon's Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) is a program designed to raise the quality and consistency of early learning programs across the state. The system provides a framework that helps child care programs improve their quality, and also serves as a reference tool for parents looking for early learning and care options.

Each month, TRI staff compile the QRIS Data Facts. This report is designed to make important QRIS data available to the public, and to provide updates on the QRIS process evaluation being conducted at the Teaching Research Institute.

View the QRIS Data Facts. . .

TRI is Hiring!

Teaching Research Institute (TRI) at Western Oregon University is currently seeking five positions:

Lead Project Specialist (National Center on Deaf-Blindness)
Early Childhood Project Specialist (Center on Early Learning)
School-Age Enrichment Teacher (TRI Child Development Center)
Bilingual Early Learning Project Specialist (Center on Early Learning)
Child Development Center Part-Time Teacher (TRI Child Development Center)

View all the job postings here.


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