By Sherron Lumley
When Jennifer King began the online master’s program in Early Intervention Special Education, she was 43. What she didn’t realize then, was that having the wisdom of life behind her would be important to the work she does now with families in Hood River, Oregon.

“I went back later in life when my children were middle school and elementary age. I had taught pre-school at a private school and worked with kids of all ages struggling with at-risk behavior. I really enjoyed working with young kids and young families and wanted to help kids who were struggling,” she says.
“It is a two-year program that is all online, and it is very approachable and attainable for a working mom.”
PSU College of Education Alumna jen King, on the online Master’s program for Early Intervention Special education
She began her Master’s of Education program at Portland State University in 2018 while living in White Salmon, Washington. “It is a two-year program that is all online, and it is very approachable and attainable for a working mom,” says King. “At first I didn’t have a strong technology skill set, and that was daunting – how to post and navigate and use the library online – it was a steep learning curve that was empowering.”
Her cohort’s group research involved working virtually with children and families in the country of Georgia, near Turkey and the Black Sea. The group later traveled to meet the children and families in person. “We flew into Istanbul, and it was a great adventure. When we met the people we had been working with, it widened my perspective and made me realize the challenges. It was an amazing opportunity in our program to work with Hollie Hix Small, whose background is in international intervention, in support of young children everywhere.”
King finished her master’s degree doing her student teaching in Hood River, Oregon, a rural town on the Columbia River about an hour east of Portland. The agricultural region is known for producing some of the country’s finest apples, and its natural beauty and high winds inspire world-class windsurfing tourism. The Hood River School District hired her upon graduation from PSU to work in Special Education.
“Our program is in an old elementary school that is a part of the school district, and I work with families that are very vulnerable,” says King. Of the school district’s 3,794 students, 38 percent are English-language learners and 59 percent qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. Thirteen percent are students with disabilities.
Pine Grove Elementary School is a hub for Early Intervention and Special Education, and due to the rural location King wears many hats rather than specializing in just one area. She collaborates with occupational therapists, physical therapists and speech-language pathologists, and coaches pre-school teachers, as well as working with families.
“I am able to witness true grace, seeing how much they love their children and want the best for them,” says King. “I’m witnessing a lot of good in the world. You see people rise up.”
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