Gateway to Partner with Point Park University to Offer 24 College Credits For High Schoolers ateway
GATEWAY SCHOOL DISTRICT
As the education world looks for new ways to tackle the nationwide teaching shortage, the Gateway School District is thinking of creative solutions.
Mark Spinola’ s Teacher Academy class at Gateway High School is one of the landmark‘ grow your own’ teaching programs in the state. Now, the district is taking its efforts a step further, partnering with Point Park University to offer eight classes that transfer for 24 credits at Point Park.
Those classes include Teacher Academy 1-3, Child Development 1, Pre-School Education 1-3, and Disability Studies: Understand and Supporting Individuals with Disabilities. Outside of Disability Studies— which Spinola wrote recently for adoption next school year— all seven courses already exist at Gateway High School.
“ We certainly want to encourage kids who are willing and talented enough to enter the teaching profession,” said Spinola.“ We want them to see it as a viable career. And the affordability aspect is great, because that can be a tremendous obstacle for kids.”
Offering college credits in high school isn’ t a new idea, but offering this amount of credits— nearly the equivalent of a full year— is rather unique. The idea came together through Spinola’ s efforts, which were sparked by a directive by Gateway School District superintendent Dr. Guy Rossi to look into building such a partnership with a university.
A partnership with Point Park just made sense. Former Gateway teacher and Gateway graduate Dr. Kristen Misutka is an assistant professor of education at Point Park University. Spinola came to her with the idea, and the two worked together to make the partnership happen.
“ When I reached out to my bosses at Point Park— Virginia Chambers and Kamryn York— they really loved the idea,” said Dr. Misutka.
“ It’ s awesome. Mark has always been so interested in helping kids, so to work with him is amazing. And as a former Gateway graduate and Gateway teacher, to be able to continue to work with the district has been such a wonderful experience. I’ m really excited.” Beyond giving students a head start on college, Gateway and Point Park will work together to put Point Park students in student
26 MONROEVILLE teaching roles in the district, taking the‘ grow your own’ teacher idea to another level.
“ We wanted to create a pipeline for kids to go from our Teacher Academy into a university and back into a role as a long term interview at Gateway through student teaching or temporary employment,” said Spinola.
“ I think Dr. Rossi is really forward thinking and innovative. This really is a‘ grow your own’ teacher program,” added Dr. Misutka.“ These types of programs have been kicked around for a while, but Gateway is actually implementing it.”
Beyond attracting more students to the teaching profession, the partnership will make college a more viable, affordable option for students, Spinola added. Through his Teacher Academy, Spinola has helped spearhead a number of partnerships with colleges. Carlow University also accepts Teacher Academy for college credits, while the Indiana University of Pennsylvania provides curriculum support and mentoring for the Teacher Academy.
“ Fundamentally, you need a degree. And this is going to get you there faster and cheaper than anywhere else,” said Spinola.
“ Having university partners with their expertise is really helpful. And to be teaching courses from my perspective that align so well with what they would learn in college, it’ s reassuring. It gives you some confidence in what you’ re doing”
Dr. Misutka added that similar programs are needed across education, to help shore up teacher shortages across the field. It might take some creative problemsolving, but at Gateway, creativity and employee voice is encouraged.
“ It is really great at this point of my career to work with an administration that appreciates your ideas,” said Spinola.“ There’ s a space made for people that they think have an idea that they want to try. They put faith in people’ s abilities. That makes you feel good about what you’ re doing.”