The in-school branch at Edgewood and student tellers

Eight years ago the Montgomery County Teachers Federal Credit Union (MCT) opened a ground-breaking in-school branch at the Pathways School-Edgewood. It was the first in a special education high school. The innovative program was designed to be compatible with Edgewood's vocational programming, so students were trained and worked as the branch's tellers. The in-school branch was so successful that in 2009 the Transit Employees Federal Credit Union (TEFCU) used it as a model when it opened an in-school branch at Pathways-Crossland-Re-Entry. This in-school branch was the first in Prince George's County.

Last year MCT merged with Educational Systems Federal Credit Union (ESFCU), based in Greenbelt. Though it had educational programs fostering financial literacy in schools, ESFCU had little experience with in-school branches as sites for career training. Once it saw the success of Edgewood's branch, however, ESFCU not only agreed to keep it operating with student tellers, it became interested in expanding its in-school branch program to serve the career training needs of students as well. (Read an article about this on ESFCU's website.) Relying on Pathways experience and success with in-school branches, ESFCU representatives met with Pathways' Transition Specialist and Career Path Coordinator Anthony Hamm and with Prince George's County Public Schools officials to discuss opening an in-school branch at Pathways DuVal Re-Entry. This new branch will be modeled on the one at Crossland Re-Entry, and will be open to all students at DuVal High School as well as Pathways. It is set to open in October, 2013.

This is the 12th year of therapeutic horseback riding at Pathways. It has endured as a program because of its evident benefits for our students, who learn much more than how to sit on a horse. During the sessions at Rock Creek Horse Center students receive instruction and hands-on practice in the care and riding of horses. They learn about behavior, how to approach the horse, and ultimately how to cooperate with the horse to ride successfully. The students develop confidence and compassion while receiving real-time lessons in teamwork and collaboration. With the guidance of instructor Nicoline Beveridge (who in 2010 received Pathways Partner in Education award for her excellence in teaching and her dedication) and with the essential assistance of the horses, our students grow into leaders.

A story from therapeutic riding in March illustrates the

Springville student on his horse

point. One Monday, two students from Northwood at Hyattsville completed their final trail ride at the Rock Creek Horse Center. As they were preparing to leave, a student group from Springville arrived for their first session. With encouragement from Ms. Beveridge, the Northwood students actually gave an introductory lesson about their horses, Oakie and Windwalker. They explained the horse's anatomy and showed the new students some of the tools used to care for them, and concluded with a short safety lesson, including the need for wearing helmets. Finally, the moment arrived for the Springville students to mount up. Horses, which are large animals and unfamiliar to most people, can be intimidating at first, and one of the Springville students was reluctant. One of the Northwood students immediately understood the young man's hesitation and encouraged him gently but persistently. It worked. He mounted up onto Windwalker, and before the Northwood students left, he smiled and said, "This is my horse!" With the support and leadership of the Northwood students, the Springville student was able to find new courage and self-confidence.