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Ambition and Hope: An Alumna Remembers
Chelsea Rickert-Hayes came to Pathways in early 1998 and graduated from the Edgewood campus the following year. In contrast to many teens, she had clear goals and ambitions, was a motivated student, and worked extremely hard. The Edgewood staff, her teachers and therapists, provided consistent, competent, personalized support, just as they do for every Pathways student. In addition to maintaining her studies, Chelsea worked 40 hours a week, Monday through Saturday, as a veterinary assistant and receptionist at an animal hospital. According to her supervisor, Chelsea was a key part of the team at the hospital and an encouraged candidate for
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Chelsea at her graduation from Pathways-Edgewood
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long-term employment there. In addition to earning A's on all tests while attending Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) training on Sundays, she had night and weekend duty at the Wheaton Rescue Squad. Her long-term career goals included both medicine and office administration, and her immediate plan upon graduation was to continue work at the animal hospital and rescue squad (as a certified EMT) and attend Montgomery College.
As ambitious and hard-working as she was, and even with the regular support from Pathways staff, Chelsea still struggled with self-doubt and worry. She remembers Rev. Peters talking with her during these difficult moments:
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Music of Success
Crossland Re-Entry is the most recent Pathways program to operate within a public high school, following a model pioneered by Pathways under Rev. Peters' leadership in 1989. In that year, The Pathways Schools collaborated with Prince George's County Public Schools (PGCPS) in an innovative project located at DuVal High School in Lanham. It was immediately recognized on both a local and national level as a model transition program. Due to its success, in 2006, PGCPS again collaborated with Pathways to open a similar program at Crossland High School in Temple Hills.
James Rious, a student at Crossland Re-Entry, can
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James on drums during a Thanksgiving luncheon performance |
participate in extracurricular activities and take advantage of all the resources of a large public high school while being encouraged and supported by the special educators and therapists within the Pathways school. While taking classes at Pathways, he has gained employment experience as a teller at the in-school branch of the Transit Employees Federal Credit Union (TEFCU) and has learned about opening a small business in the Young Entrepreneurship Program. The extracurricular that is most significant for him by far is in an activity quite different from banking or business. A talented musician, he has just earned special acknowledgement as a drum major in the Crossland High School Band.
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 | | Erica Caulkins and Gov. O'Malley |
In every aspect of her work, Rev. Peters was committed to Pathways' vision of meeting the unique educational needs of each student. In 1995 this led to the development of a community-based high school program to serve students who learned best outside a traditional classroom environment. Pathways-Anne Arundel is such a program. Erica Caulkins is in her first full year there. Bright and outgoing, she came to the United States from Brazil six years ago and is passionate about her new country. Her Individualized Support Staff (ISS) at Anne Arundel picked up on Erica's interest and suggested a trip to see the Veterans' Day ceremony at the Maryland Veteran's Cemetery in Crownsville. The trip would enhance Erica's studies in Government, as she would see and experience representatives from several levels of government carrying out their official roles in a ceremony that was sure to appeal to Erica's patriotism. The ceremony was outdoors, and though the weather was clear on Veterans' Day, it was cold. Erica and her ISS were undeterred. Standing in the chilly wind, Erica was thrilled with the presenting of the colors and the solemn salute to each branch of the Armed Forces, whose members had served their country with honor. After the ceremony, Erica's lesson in government became even more memorable. First, she saw and greeted Anne Arundel County Executive John Leopold and confidently introduced herself. Then she patiently waited in line to shake hands with Governor Martin O'Malley, who took extra time to speak with her and pose for a picture.
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