Gateway Boarding Academy Inc

GATEWAY BOARDING ACADEMY WAS ABLE TO HIRE ITS FIRST EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ENABLING THE BOARD TO BEGIN THE SHIFT FROM PROGRAM OPERATION TO GOVERNANCE. GBA CONTINUES TO LEVERAGE CONNECTIONS WITH FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS AND PUBLIC-SCHOOL PERSONNEL TO EXPAND ENROLLMENT. IN ADDITION, IN LIGHT OF THE CONTINUING IMPACT OF COVID-19 PANDEMIC, THE FOUNDATION EXPANDED THE OPPORTUNITY FOR VIRTUAL INSTRUCTION PARTICULARLY TO SERVE UNVACCINATED STUDENTS AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO IN-PERSON INSTRUCTION. WE CONTINUE TO OFFER SERVICE TO INCLUDE AREAS IN THE EASTERN STANDARD AND CENTRAL TIME-ZONES. BOTH PROGRAMS PROVIDE AFTER-SCHOOL INSTRUCTION THROUGH THE A.S.S.I.S.T. PROGRAM, [AFTER-SCHOOL, SYSTEMATIC, INSTRUCTIONAL, SUPPORT, TIME]. EVEN AS PUBLIC SCHOOLS STRETCH TO EFFECTIVELY PROVIDE VIRTUAL INSTRUCTION, THE EFFECTIVENESS OF OUR RESEARCHED-BASED CURRICULUM, GIVES ACADEMICALLY STRUGGLING ADOLESCENT BOYS A SECOND CHANCE TO ACQUIRE ACADEMIC AND FUNCTIONAL LIFE-SKILLS THEY MUST HAVE TO BECOME PRODUCTIVE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY, IS ENHANCED BY GROUP SIZES OF ONE TO FOUR EFFECTIVELY ACCOMMODATING ENROLLEES WITH GREATER ACADEMIC SKILL DEFICIENCIES INCLUDING MANY WITH ACTIVE I.E.P.S, IDENTIFIED AS SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENTS. ALL STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS RECEIVED A RIGOROUS, SUBJECT-SPECIFIC, SIX-HOUR TRAINING TO PREPARE THEM TO SERVE OUR STUDENT CLIENTELE. THE FOUNDATION CONTINUES TO PROVIDE YOUTH PROTECTION TRAINING, SCREEN ALL STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS AS WELL AS TO VET ADULT VOLUNTEERS TO SERVE AS LIFE-SKILLS MODELS AND TEACHER ASSISTANTS IN THE A.S.S.I.S.T. PROGRAM. LASTLY, THE FOUNDATION PROVIDED ITS SECOND PRE-APPRENTICE EARN & LEARN PROGRAM, WHICH PROVIDED FOUR WEEKS OF SUMMER YOUTH EMPLOYMENT & TRAINING IN ONE OF FIVE VOCATIONAL AREAS: FURNITURE DESIGN, CULINARY ARTS, CARPENTRY, ELECTRICIAN, AND INTERNAL MEDICINE AND WEIGHT LOSS PRACTICE. THIS PROGRAM ALSO REQUIRES STUDENTS TO TAKE A MATH CLASS WITH CURRICULUM DESIGNED TO TEACH THE MATHEMATICS USED IN EACH OF THE FIVE VOCATIONAL AREAS. THE STUDENTS ARE SIMULTANEOUSLY PROVIDED SUPPORT IN THE ADOPTION OF THE LIFE SKILLS OF PROBLEM SOLVING, ACCOUNTABILITY, INTEGRITY, RESPECT, AND ENDURANCE. THE VOLUNTEER TRAINERS ARE ALL ADULT BUSINESS OWNERS FROM THE COMMUNITY THAT ARE CERTIFIED IN THEIR RESPECTIVE VOCATIONS. TO ADDRESS THE BROADER ACADEMIC DEFICIENCIES THAT WERE IDENTIFIED, GBA ADDED A SECOND SIMILARLY PROVEN, MATH ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM, WITH ITS ACCOMPANYING 8-HOUR TRAINING SESSION FOR 2-STAFF AND 8 VOLUNTEERS, TO ITS PROVEN, TECHNOLOGICALLY- BASED, BLENDED READING ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM (READ180). GBA ALSO PURCHASED ADDITIONAL COMPUTERS AND HEADSETS TO SUPPORT THE NEW PROGRAM. AS ASSESSMENT TOOLS ARE INHERENT COMPONENTS OF EACH PROGRAM, GBA CONTINUES TO COLLECT DATA THAT MEASURES AND DOCUMENTS STUDENT PROGRESS.YOUTH PROTECTION TRAINING WAS PROVIDED MONTHLY TO VET IDENTIFIED ADULT VOLUNTEERS SERVING AS LIFE-SKILLS MODELS AND TEACHER ASSISTANTS IN THE ASSIST PROGRAM. THIS TRAINING IS ALSO REQUIRED ANNUALLY FOR ALL STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS IN GATEWAY PROGRAMS. PROGRAMMATICALLY, GBA CONTINUES TO SPONSOR YOUTH TO A WEEK LONG SUMMER RESIDENTIAL LEADERSHIP TRAINING PROGRAM ON A COLLEGE CAMPUS AS WELL AS ADDITIONALLY SERVING YOUTH IN ITS THIRD ANNUAL WEEK-LONG, RESIDENTIAL, SUMMER LIFE-SKILLS CAMPING EXPERIENCE DESIGNED TO REINFORCE THE YEAR-AROUND MENTORING PROGRAM WHICH EMPHASIZES THE SAME LIFE-SKILLS (PROBLEM-SOLVING, DECISION-MAKING, ACCOUNTABILITY, INTEGRITY AND TEAM BUILDING).