Across Central Oregon, educators are the foundation of student success. Through the Central Oregon Regional Educator Network (COREN), our High Desert Education Service District and our district partners have built a region-wide system that strengthens the educator workforce, improves school climate, and aligns professional learning to Oregon’s most pressing priorities.
As the Oregon Legislature prepares for upcoming sessions, however, the future funding of Regional Educator Networks (RENs) statewide remains uncertain. While this uncertainty creates real challenges for long-term planning, it also underscores the importance of recognizing what RENs have already made possible for students, educators, and schools across our region.
A Proven Investment: 2023–2025 Impact
During the 2023–25 biennium, COREN served 100% of Central Oregon school districts, leveraging state formula funding to deliver high-quality professional learning and workforce stabilization support across eight districts.
Stabilizing the Educator Workforce
At a time when Oregon faced a statewide educator turnover rate of nearly 30%, Central Oregon saw a different outcome. COREN-supported districts reduced turnover to 24.5%, helping ensure students experienced continuity and stability with the adults who support them each day. This progress was driven by:
- 10,139 hours of direct mentoring support, closing experience gaps for novice educators
- Targeted mentoring for 124 first-year educators across Bend-La Pine, Crook County, Redmond, and 509J
- A classified-to-certified pipeline that produced 25% of all first-year teacher hires, strengthening workforce diversity and alignment with student demographics
- Strengthening School Climate and Adult Culture
Recognizing that student regulation depends on a regulated adult culture, COREN invested in restorative and trauma-informed practices across 82 schools. Nearly 900 educators annually participated in professional learning focused on de-escalation, restorative practices, and classroom management.
- 91% of school leaders reported positive impacts on school culture
- 96% of participants increased their knowledge
- 95% reported confidence implementing new strategies
Maximizing Return on Investment
COREN ensured strong stewardship of public dollars by directing more than $1.6 million in formula funds to educator support strategies while also leveraging significant external funding, including grants supporting LGBTQ2SIA+, community mental health partnerships, and regional innovation, extending impact without additional strain on the State School Fund. A strategic integration of Student Success funds and staffing has established a strong internal collaboration at the HDESD that leverages resources, relationships and capacity to reduce redundancies and enhance service to our educators.
Looking Ahead: Strategic Focus for 2025–2027
Building on this foundation, COREN’s 2025–27 strategy marks a shift toward more coherent and aligned problems of practice that elevate educator voice, district strategic priorities and relevant data and policy through a continuous improvement lens.
Key investments include:
- Early literacy and instructional equity, with targeted supports for English Learners, students with disabilities, and equitable math practices
- Behavioral health workforce development, including a new school-based mental health intern pipeline and clinician peer consultation supports
- System sustainability, through train-the-trainer models, administrator mentoring, and the integration of COREN with the region’s Culture of Care initiative
These efforts are designed to build durable capacity within districts, reducing long-term reliance on external supports while improving outcomes for students.
Funding Uncertainty and Why It Matters
As legislators consider education investments in upcoming sessions, Regional Educator Network funding has not yet been secured beyond the current biennium. This uncertainty places proven, cost-effective systems like COREN at risk—systems that directly support educator retention, student safety, and instructional quality.
COREN’s work demonstrates what is possible when districts collaborate regionally with stable, targeted funding. Continued investment will allow Central Oregon to sustain progress, respond to workforce challenges, and ensure every student benefits from supported, skilled educators.
High Desert ESD remains committed to transparency, partnership, and stewardship as we navigate this uncertainty together, and to advocating for systems that we know are making a difference for our region’s schools.
