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Annual Report
2014-2015 Academic Year
The past year numerous reports have lauded our schools for the innovative
practices and partnerships that have led to increases in national graduation
rates for students of all backgrounds. I am proud to be a part of this
movement and thankful for our partnerships with Highline and Federal
Way Public Schools in addressing this social issue.
Since admitting our first student four years ago, Gateway has strived to
produce academically sound and intellectually driven students who are
fully capable of pursuing a career or field of their choice. Gateway meets
this goal by preparing students for success as they continue on with their
education at Highline College, completing their Associate’s degree or
Bachelor’s degree. Even more meaningful is the fact that our students,
regardless of the path they choose, understand what it means to be
challenged and engaged intellectually.
The significance of our work, though, must be understood within the
historical context of education for the poor and underserved, because
knowing our history will help us situate our work today. Countless scholars
have written essays describing our current system but the work of late 19th
century scholar, W.E.B. Du Bois, still resonates today. Du Bois understood a
people deprived of an education, will not only lose the power of the vote,
but power to live fulfilling and meaningful lives as codified in the
Declaration of Independence. To this point he writes, “Freedom, too, the
long-sought, we still seek, - freedom to love and aspire. Work, culture,
liberty, - all these we need, not singly but together…” So, as we bear
witness today, to the heavy hand of poverty and the label of race in
denying a population of its opportunities, it is apparent the writings of Du
Bois, written over a hundred years ago, are still relevant. And this is where I
situate the work of Gateway, continuing the tradition of cultivating and
grooming intellectuals. What follows in this report is the narrative of
preparing students for work and society by creating an intellectual culture,
whereby students are truly capable of enjoying the fruits of liberty.
Kao Saechao, M.Ed. Program Director,
Gateway to College – Highline College
“The training of the schools
we need to-day more than
ever,--the training of deft
hands, quick eyes and ears,
and above all the broader,
deeper, higher culture of
gifted minds and pure
hearts. The power of the
ballot we need in sheer
self-defence,--else what
shall save us from a second
slavery? Freedom, too, the
long-sought, we still seek,--
the freedom of life and
limb, the freedom to work
and think, the freedom to
love and aspire. Work,
culture, liberty,--all these
we need, not singly but
together, not successively
but together, each growing
and aiding each, and all
striving toward that vaster
ideal…” W.E.B. Du Bois
Opening Remarks
45%
55%
Enrollment by District
FWPS
HPS
42%
58%
Female Male
Gender
2%
15%
18%
29%
36%
American Indian
Black
Asian/Pacific Islander
White
Hispanic/Latin@
35
40
FWSD HSD
FTE Count By District
46%54%
Courses Enrolled
College Level (ENG
101, Math 111,
etc.)
High School
Completion
Courses Only
Gateway continues to serve a diverse student population. This year we served a total of 154 students
who entered with an average GPA of 1.33. One significant change this year is the increase in enrollment
for Hispanic/Latin@ and Asian/Pacific Islander students. Compared to the previous year, we increased
enrollment for Hispanic/Latin@ students by 20% and Asian/Pacific Islander students by 29%.
This change in demographics sheds light on two areas. First, in Gateway students develop a profound
sense of self and accomplishment in the program and have become our best referral source. Second,
we have gained the trust of our schools and community partners who won’t hesitate to send us their
most challenging student because of the change they have seen in students.
n = 154
Gateway Student Demographic
FIRST YEAR EXPERIENCE
In the first year of Gateway,
students develop academic
writing skills as preparation for
an English 101 course.
Gateway students begin the first
year by starting in Foundation
quarter. After Foundation, all
students are placed into an
English 101 course with
continued writing support from
their Foundation instructor.
Sandra Juarez’s Narrative
“Believe”
“I remember my dad coming back
inside to get me. He told me an
important message that I will never
forget, ‘Nothing in life is easy. You
have to work hard and push yourself
to accomplish what you desire. You
should never give up just because
you failed the first time. You get
back up like you never failed.’ After
that small speech, I decided to go
back outside to give it another try.
Of course, I fell time and time again
till I finally did it. I felt so proud of
myself. What I felt most proud of
was that I took the chance of going
back out there and not giving up.”
(Pictured third from left)
OPENING DIALOGUE
In Gateway, students are expected
to exchange ideas and share their
work with peers. Our goal is to
create a safe and engaging
environment for discourse and
learning. Here, Ben Satele reads
from his portfolio during the
celebration event at the end of
Foundation quarter.
In Gateway, we believe retention and year-to-year persistence are accurate measures of engagement.
The first question we ask is: are our students going to class consistently? Based on the research on
academic attainment, our goal is to have students maintain an attendance rate of 90% or higher for the
year. This year we inched closer to our goal as our students were in class 86% of the time.
So, what keeps Gateway students coming back to the program? In our time working with students, we
have discovered that all students want to understand their world a little better and curious about their
life and purpose. To help them in this intellectual endeavor, we challenge students to think deeply about
learning by immersing them in literature, current events, educational videos and relating it to their own
personal challenges. In short, intellectual engagement precedes personal engagement and that is why our
students stay in the program.
0% 100%
WINTER 2015 TO SPRING 2015 RETENTION RATE
74%
Gateway to College – Productive Persistence
The Gateway Culture
FALL 2014 TO WINTER 2015 RETENTION RATE
80%
FALL 2013 TO FALL 2014 PERSISTANCE RATE
57%
100%
100% 0%
0%
AVERAGE DAILY ATTENDANCE
86%
100% 0%
SECOND YEAR EXPERIENCE The A
2lgebra Project
In the second year, Gateway
students develop their math skills
in order to pass a college level
math class. Students are co-
enrolled in a Gateway math class
while taking an existing algebra
class. The goal is create a learning
community focused on math.
SECOND YEAR EXPERIENCE Neydin’s Path
Neydin Estrada graduated with 66
college credits, a 3.85 GPA and
having passed a Math 111 (college
algebra) course. She received the
Outstanding Scholastic
Achievement Award for her work
with the English department at
Highline College.
graduates
in increased lifetime earnings*
savings to the public health system**
is the average number of college credits accumulated
is the average college level GPA
students read All the Right Stuff, The
Malefactor, The Story of a Snitch and The Ones Who
Walk Away as part of the application process
books read by Gateway students as
part of Foundation and continuing courses
students have passed a college level English or
Communication course
is the average GPA of student passing a
college level English or Communications course
We believe building
strong readers is the
first step to liberty.
This process begins
when students start
the application
process by reading The
Malefactor by Anton
Chekhov, thus
engaging students
through the art of
reading and dialogue.
The act of reading is
the best protection
against those that
dehumanize because
of race and poverty.
*Lifetime earnings are based on additional earnings of $260,000 for high school graduate vs high school dropout from the study, “Finishing High School: Alternative Pathways and Dropout Recovery” by
John H. Tyler and Magnus Loftstrom
** Average lifetime savings to the public health system per graduate is $40,500 based on the report, “The Costs and Benefits of An Excellent Education for All of America’s Children” by Henry Levine, et al.
DISTINGUISHED SCHOLAR
Jasmin Tucker graduated with
72 college credits, 3.7 college
GPA and on the Vice
President’s Honor Roll three
consecutive quarters. She
plans on majoring in Business
at University of Washington.
GIVING BACK
Our goal is to cultivate
students into leaders. In turn,
our hope is they return to
Gateway to help other
students. Here, Billy Chandler
inspiring other Gateway
students to keep reading and
stay focused on their goals.
LIFELONG CONNECTIONS
The Gateway community is only
as strong as its students. Here,
Gateway graduates, Jeramy
Aquino and Avael Atlas returning
to update the program on what
they have done since graduating.
Jeramy completed the YearUp
program and currently works as a
contractor providing support for
information systems. Avael plans
to join the Marines.
Gateway Staff Bopha Mao
Program Assistant
Nancy Rawles
English Faculty
Victoria Bernstein
English Faculty
Kao Saechao
Program Director
In closing, I would like to thank the Gateway staff for their
hard work and dedication to our students, especially
Nancy Rawles for contributing to this report. Mike Sita
from Highline Public Schools continues to help us move in
the right direction. We, also, wouldn’t be able to keep
everything moving without help from Sharon Cawsey
(HPS) and Tanya Nascimento (FWPS). Our continued
partnership with the Gateway to College National Network
has helped build a strong network to support student
learning.
As a practitioner, my understanding of curriculum and
instruction has increased exponentially due to a group of
dedicated educators who regularly attend the Colloquium
for Instructional Development meetings spearheaded by
Drego Little. Furthermore, our continued partnership with
the Gateway to College National Network has helped build
a strong network to support student learning.
At Highline College, I want to thank Jeff Wagnitz for
trusting me to build the program from the ground up and
allowing enough flexibility to make Gateway work for the
students. Rolita Ezeonu has been instrumental in
providing wisdom and insights, and I will always be
grateful for her support. Erik Scott has shown courage and
dedication in working with Gateway to create a
supplemental math course for our Gateway students.
Both, Ay Saechao and Erik, have been willing participants
in brainstorming The A2lgebra Project as cross department
collaboration to help all students. I am grateful for the
work that Jacque Clinton put in working with Gateway
students. Toni Castro, Debbie Faison and the Student
Services department have helped to make the process of
matriculating students as seamless as possible. Finally,
there are far too many staff and faculty to thank at
Highline, so thank you ALL for your support the past five
years.
Closing Remarks
Gateway students have become
an integral part of the Highline
College community. They
participate in campus-wide
events, join student groups and
interact with the existing student
body. Here they celebrate their
success with their peers.
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