GATEWAY SCHOOL DISTRICT

In June, the district learned that it had been awarded the Developing Future Special Educators Grant, a $ 20,000 grant earmarked for efforts to“ develop or enhance opportunities for secondary students to learn about special education career pathways and / or work with students with disabilities.”

At Gateway, the money will support Gateway High School’ s Disability Studies course, taught by veteran teacher Mark Spinola. Mr. Spinola— who also teaches the school’ s Teacher Academy courses— has been instrumental in pushing the district’ s efforts

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to develop future educators. The grant money, Mr. Spinola said, will largely be used for textbooks and curriculum materials for the Disability Studies class, one of several courses at Gateway High School that can be transferred for up to 24 credits at Point Park University.

“ The goals are to encourage students to consider a career working with people with disabilities and to teach them about the disabilities movement, so that they have a good working knowledge of disability law,” said Mr. Spinola.“ That way they would enter college ahead of some other students and have a better base understanding.”

Funds will also support travel to and from Point Park University,

so students have the opportunity to get instruction from college professors in special education. Mr. Spinola also said there are plans for an advocate program to purposely integrate regular and special education students during lunch and other settings.

“ The goal is to create friendships and for students in the disability studies course to have a firsthand knowledge of students with disabilities and what their needs are, and to see that they’ re just like the rest of us,” said Mr. Spinola.

“ Any sort of opportunity to connect students in the class with students in a special education program is a big focus.”

While the Disability Studies course will officially begin in the 2026-27 school year, Mr. Spinola said he had the opportunity to teach the course to one student during his prep period this past year. The experience allowed Mr. Spinola to fine-tune the course, while also ensuring that the student received additional college credits before graduation. Among some highlights of the dry run of the course, Mr. Spinola said he and the student took an online sign language class together. The student also ran a clothing drive with special education students.

“ It was good. We went faster, so we were able to cover even more topics,” said Mr. Spinola.“ It allowed me to fine-tune the curriculum. I now have a really good idea of how the course should operate.”

Mr. Spinola’ s efforts in leading this future class – along with his Teacher Academy courses— stems from a foreboding trend of teacher shortages and teacher burnout across Pennsylvania – and