The 2012-2013 school year is off to a robust beginning.  Over the summer, Pathways' Administrative Team chose "Students Today - Leaders Tomorrow" for the year's theme.  Well, those students of today have arrived.  They have been greeted by refurbished sites and new educational technology, as well as creative educational programs in the arts, career development, and outdoor education.  Most importantly, they are welcomed by an instructional and therapeutic staff trained and ready to tailor educational programming to build on strengths and overcome weaknesses for each individual student.  That is what will enable our students of today to become leaders tomorrow.

We know this to be true because Pathways graduates are leaders.  Principals received word over the summer of former students who are enrolled at Prince George's Community College enroute to Morgan State, at the Art Institute, and at St. Augustine College.  Others are working at Target, Giant, with ARC, and as a bus driver. One is continuing work training at Melwood.  All are leaders in demonstrating that it is possible to overcome  obstacles to become contributing, productive, independent members of the community.

We at Pathways look forward to another year in which we are privileged to teach and learn from these young emerging leaders.

Pathways has long been a Washington area leader in providing innovative, flexible, alternative educational-therapeutic programs for students with behavioral difficulties.  We also have a longstanding history of working collaboratively with Prince George's County Public Schools (PGCPS). So it was not surprising that PGCPS looked to Pathways when a growing number of kindergarten students new to the school system exhibited significant behavior problems during the school day.  The public schools needed to work with a provider that had the experience and flexibility to respond quickly and effectively to help these young and struggling students succeed in the least restrictive environment.  The result is the Prince George's-Pathways Kindergarten Partnership, a collaboration between PGCPS and Pathways that is supported by the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE).

Emily Anderson, one of Pathways' most experienced licensed clinical social workers, will be the program coordinator, assisted by another long-time Pathways special education professional.  They will work with the kindergartners who are facing behavioral difficulties, and with their parents and PGCPS staff.  The Pathways team will travel where they are needed, helping children acquire strategies to cope with their emotional challenges, observing their progress and set-backs, assisting teachers to develop positive behavior interventions tailored to the students'  and classroom's needs, and enabling families to find and use all the services and resources available to them in the school setting and public school system.