Life Enrichment Education Program staff members Miles Estes and Andrew Marquez are steadily working toward becoming licensed special education teachers with the support of several Clackamas ESD initiatives designed to remove barriers and create clear pathways for classified staff who aspire to become teachers, counselors, social workers or school psychologists.

Both joined the Clackamas ESD team within the last three years – Miles as a behavioral coach and Andrew as an educational assistant. Their experiences working with the exceptional students in LEEP have inspired them to pursue becoming licensed special education teachers.

“Once I started working in the LEEP post-high classroom, I knew I had found my home,” Miles shares. “I discovered a real passion for working with older students, helping them build functional and life skills, and guiding them as they grow into their full potential.”

Andrew shares similar sentiments, reflecting on the deep sense of purpose he finds in working with students.

“It feels like I’ve found my calling helping students build the skills they need to grow and gain a real sense of independence,” Andrew says.

At the start of the 2024/25 school year, Miles and Andrew were selected to be the first two LEEP teaching residents, a new role designed by the LEEP team to give Clackamas ESD staff aspiring to be special education teachers additional classroom experience.

As teaching residents, Miles and Andrew work alongside seasoned LEEP teachers while pursuing their master’s degrees in education with a special education endorsement at Western Oregon University. The role offers “bonus student teaching” – in-depth, real-world experience supporting instruction, contributing to students’ individual education plans, helping maintain a positive and inclusive classroom culture, and developing lessons tailored to student needs.

Miles is a teaching resident in one of LEEP’s post-high classes, which helps students ages 18 to 21 transition from high school to adulthood. 

“It’s been a great experience working alongside a teacher,” says Miles. “I’m able to step into new responsibilities while still doing familiar tasks. I’ve been able to learn about our student information system, Synergy, and get a better understanding of how things work behind the scenes. Having someone there to ask questions and guide me has been really helpful.”

Andrew is an adaptive physical education teaching resident, helping tailor activities to meet students’ individual strengths and needs – a role that aligns perfectly with his background as a former college athlete and communications major.

“Whether it was being a camp counselor or playing sports, I’ve always been drawn to roles where collaboration and teamwork are key. And I love figuring out how to communicate with others, so working with students who have communication disorders has been a great fit,” Andrew explains. “As a teaching resident, seeing how a class functions, understanding the responsibilities of a teacher, and working with the team has been eye-opening.”

Miles and Andrew are also among several Clackamas ESD employees accepted into Clackamas ESD’s new Career Pathways Residency launched in spring 2025. The program provides wraparound support, including help with college tuition, testing fees and additional stipends for participants, as well as dedicated guidance from mentor teachers, who are also compensated for their support. In addition, they are recipients of Clackamas ESD Career Ladder Funds, a longstanding initiative that helps classified staff cover the costs of coursework required to transition into licensed roles.

Their students’ progress continues to inspire Miles and Andrew on their journeys towards becoming licensed teachers.

“I’ve worked with one student since my first year, and seeing his growth has been amazing,” Miles shares. “He used to take a long time to transition, sometimes up to 45 minutes for something simple. Now, he’s able to transition in just a few minutes, which has been such an accomplishment for him, and for all of us who’ve been part of his journey.”

Similarly, Andrew’s work in adaptive physical education has given him a deep appreciation for the small but significant milestones they achieve and how these incremental victories build over time.

“Working in adaptive PE, you really get to see how much students grow, from kindergartners all the way up to 21-year-olds. It’s incredible to witness those small wins over the years, building up to the point where students are ready to transition from school into the community,” says Andrew.