[EdTalks] Celebrating 10 Years of Impact through GATE

Tackling the teacher shortage isn't just about competing for a shrinking pool of candidates; it's about building your own innovative educator pipeline. In this episode, Catherine Schumacher sits down with Dr. Candice Moore to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Greenville Alternative Teacher Education (GATE) Program. Listeners will discover how this groundbreaking, district-embedded model is successfully transforming career changers into highly effective classroom leaders while solving critical workforce gaps in public education.

Dr. Moore breaks down what sets GATE apart from traditional teacher preparation programs and external alternative certification pathways, specifically highlighting its cohort framework and intensive multi-layered coaching system. The conversation tackles the common skepticism surrounding alternative certifications, proving that a different on-ramp to teaching doesn't mean lowering rigorous classroom standards. Tune in to find out exactly how GATE achieves an impressive 90% educator retention rate and what recruits really experience during their "fast and furious" Summer Academy. 

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Episode Resources:

• Greenville County Schools GATE Program Official Page

• Informed SC Data Center

• GATE Application Checklist & Info Session Details

Introduction to the GATE Program

Catherine Schumacher:

This episode of Simple Civics Ed Talks is sponsored by InformEdSC.org, South Carolina's most comprehensive and user-friendly nonpartisan data center for critical information about students, teachers, achievement, and funding for public education. 

Bringing together district and state level data, InformEdSC.org is a one-stop shop for researchers and champions to advance knowledge and inform action. InformEDSC.org is a special project of Public Education Partners, Greenville County. 

Greenville County Schools hires hundreds of new teachers each year, and not all of them have taken the traditional pathway into the classroom through a teacher preparation program in college. 

I'm Catherine Schumacher of Public Education Partners, and on today's Simple Civics Ed Talks, we will be learning more about GATE, the Greenville Alternative Teacher Education Program, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. 

Originally designed by the district in partnership with Public Education Partners to address critical needs for science and math teachers, GATE has since grown into one of the most dynamic and successful sources for new teachers in our community across a range of subject areas. I'm joined for this conversation by Dr. Candice Moore, who serves as the GATE Program Director.

Well, Candice, thank you so much for being here with me today to talk about the GATE program. It is such an exciting milestone that it's hitting this year. I am really excited for our listeners to have an opportunity to learn about it and hear about the terrific work that you've done leading it over the last several years. 

Start with the basic history of the GATE program. It's such a great example of the way that Public Education Partners and the district can work together when it works perfectly. Why don't you tell us about the origin story of GATE?

The History and Origin of GATE

Dr. Candice Moore:

GATE started as a collaboration between Greenville County Schools and Public Education Partners. Before GATE began in the 2016-17 school year, the district was facing persistent shortages, specifically in the areas of math and science. 

Traditional pipelines were not meeting the demand. So rather than continuing to compete with other districts for a shrinking pool, district and community leaders started asking a different question, which was, how do we build our own pipeline?

Catherine Schumacher:

Grow your own.

Dr. Candice Moore:

Absolutely. And the solution was GATE, a district-embedded alternative certification pathway in which the district provides the classroom and instructional context for candidates wanting to begin a career in education. 

During those early years, we worked really closely with Public Education Partners as they provided the external support through funding and building community credibility. 

I think one thing that makes GATE compelling, both in terms of how it started and what it has become, is that it's a solution that wasn't outsourced. It was co-created and supported in very big ways by PEP at the outset.

What Makes the GATE Model Unique

Catherine Schumacher:

We were really excited. In preparing for this conversation and realizing that it was 10 years, it hadn't occurred to me yet.

Dr. Candice Moore:

It went by so fast.

Catherine Schumacher:

It went by so fast. We've raised almost a half a million dollars from some really remarkable funders. Duke Energy was the big lead funder that stepped up. 

The Daniel-Mickel Foundation and Fluor and some individual funders as well. It really was a perfect example of how PEP connects dots. There are other alternative certification pathways and GATE is different. What's different about GATE and the model?

Dr. Candice Moore:

A big thing is the district-embedded design. That's the first thing that comes to mind.

Catherine Schumacher:

And it was the first one that was in a district, so it was really groundbreaking in that regard.

Dr. Candice Moore:

Yes, the first district-embedded alternative certification program in the state. Unlike many alternative pathways that are for-profit national models or those that are university-led, GATE is designed and executed inside Greenville County Schools. 

Coursework, coaching, evaluation—everything is directly tied to district expectations. Something else that sets GATE apart is the cohort and community model. By design, GATE utilizes a cohort model so participants move through the program together. 

Not only does that reduce isolation, which is often an expressed challenge of alternatively certified teachers.

Catherine Schumacher:

And I think teachers generally. It can be really stressful in that first phase.

Dr. Candice Moore:

One hundred percent. The cohort itself provides an added layer of support for GATE teachers. I think the biggest program design feature that sets GATE apart is the coaching and performance alignment model that we use. 

Each GATE teacher has a multi-member team that is designed to ensure their support and success. The team utilizes school-based members, including an administrator, instructional coach, a mentor, and also non-school-based members, including a GATE coach and a representative from the GATE leadership team. 

Candidates are not left to just figure out how to teach on their own. They're receiving wraparound support designed to help them experience success from the outset. Having strongly supported teachers in the classroom directly contributes to positive student outcomes, which is the goal in everything that we do.

Navigating Challenges and Program Growth

Catherine Schumacher:

That Greenville County Schools does. It's so interesting because we know that induction teachers graduating from Clemson or Carolina or USC Upstate or any of these other programs have had that student teaching time. 

You've had that opportunity to get feedback from an experienced teacher before you are even hired. This is designed to meet that gap for these folks that are coming in straight from industry or who are coming in without that education training background. 

Lots of success stories, and we're going to end with a lot of those. But what have been some of the challenges? What are the things that, as the program has grown and evolved, you've bumped up against and had to evolve in real time?

Dr. Candice Moore:

In full transparency, there is sometimes some skepticism around alternative certification as a credible pathway into teaching. Even the term "alternative" carries a connotation that is sometimes interpreted as lesser than. 

We've worked really hard to educate stakeholders both inside and outside the district to reframe this perspective. Alternative certification is not a shortcut.

Catherine Schumacher:

It's very rigorous.

Dr. Candice Moore:

Absolutely. It's just a different on-ramp with the same high expectations as a traditional pathway. Another challenge, and maybe the bigger challenge, has been the growth that GATE has experienced. Growth sometimes creates strain.

Catherine Schumacher:

I know how many GATE teachers you've been overseeing and helping. You and your team.

Dr. Candice Moore:

More candidates means more everything. More mentors, more evaluators, more funding, more coaches. 

What was once sustainable with a part-time director and 10 hourly GATE coaches requires a lot more hands on deck now to continue that. It's a great problem to have, but it has required us to think creatively and strategically about how we preserve quality while scaling to meet the needs of the district.

Expanding the Program and Teacher Retention

Catherine Schumacher:

When the program started, it was really started to focus on math and science. Those were the highest need areas for the district in terms of finding qualified candidates. 

I remember that first cohort was like 10 folks. Each year you've added a category because the need continues to grow. In Greenville, we're really lucky and we are a district where people want to work. But for some of these specific areas, there is ongoing need. 

Talk about the decision behind expanding GATE. Why do we continue to grow it both here in Greenville, and what are we seeing statewide in this alternative pathway landscape?

Dr. Candice Moore:

The decision to expand was made in conjunction with district leadership, specifically in human resources. GATE exists to be responsive to the hiring needs of the district. 

Each year we look at workforce gaps and from there we respond accordingly. So far, GATE has been able to offset the hiring needs of the district in the hardest to fill content and geographic areas. 

If we look at it even a little more broadly, while GATE started as a certification pathway to meet the needs of the district, it's really developed into a workforce development strategy that impacts the community as a whole. 

A big determining factor in continuing the expansion is the success that we've experienced in terms of community interest. Word of mouth continues to be our greatest recruitment strategy. We have about 50 times the number of applicants now than we did 10 years ago.

Catherine Schumacher:

Wow.

Dr. Candice Moore:

More interest and more applicants mean there's more talent out there that can be tapped into. That was a big factor in helping us make that decision. 

Another factor in expansion, and perhaps one of the bigger ones, is our retention rate. One criticism of alternative certification pathways as a whole is that they're considered "easy in, easy out" options, which can contribute to high attrition. 

But GATE has consistently maintained retention rates higher than the state and comparable to those in traditional pathways. Just over the past couple of years, well over 200 teachers have entered the profession through GATE and we're currently retaining right at 90% of those.

Catherine Schumacher:

Which is great.

Dr. Candice Moore:

Retention points to a model that's working and that has certainly contributed to the continued expansion of the program.

How to Become a GATE Teacher

Catherine Schumacher:

If someone is interested in becoming a GATE teacher, talk a little bit about the process. What happens? I think that is interesting. 

If I'm an accountant, for example, and I decide I've always wanted to be a teacher—maybe retirement is in my near future and I want to become a math teacher—what do I have to do? What does that journey look like?

Dr. Candice Moore:

We are continuously offering information sessions. If someone's interested in becoming a teacher through the GATE program, I would highly recommend starting there. Those information sessions are listed on our website.

Catherine Schumacher:

And we'll link those in the show notes.

Dr. Candice Moore:

Fabulous. Those take place via Zoom, so it's accessible if you are still working full-time in another area. 

What we look for is at least a bachelor's degree in a related field and there is a GPA requirement of 2.5 or above. If you have higher degrees, like a Master's or a Doctorate, we can definitely use those transcripts to evaluate eligibility. 

From there, we determine what you would be eligible to teach and you do a district screening interview. Once we determine eligibility, we'll issue a statement of eligibility, which is basically your ticket to start applying to vacancies in the district.

Catherine Schumacher:

Okay. So you get pre-screened and then you go into the mix with all of the other applicants for specific positions across the district.

Dr. Candice Moore:

Yes. Eligibility for the program is determined first, and then you secure a teaching position.

Training and the Summer Academy

Catherine Schumacher:

So then you get hired and become part of the cohort. You go through the Summer Academy. Talk a little bit about Summer Academy.

Dr. Candice Moore:

Every summer we have a three-week institute. It's a fast and furious crash course in all things education. It is intense. I tell candidates we're going to give you just enough to get you nice and overwhelmed and then send you into the classroom.

Catherine Schumacher:

Which is standard practice for teaching generally, I feel like.

Dr. Candice Moore:

It is, unfortunately, standard practice. But along with that, we also send in support. We help you apply the things that we go over in the institute. 

All throughout your first two years in the program, we circle back and we go deeper in seminars and other coursework. Your learning really does spiral in a good way.

Catherine Schumacher:

Spiral in the good way, yes.

Dr. Candice Moore:

Thank you for noting that distinction.

Success Stories and Leadership Milestones

Catherine Schumacher:

Absolutely. That's so interesting. I know you've got some great success stories and we always love to end these conversations on a high note. 

Some of the great teachers from that first cohort, or certainly incredible leaders, have emerged out of the GATE program. Tell a few of their stories.

Dr. Candice Moore:

This is a fun one and there are so many it's hard to choose. The ones that immediately come to mind are those that highlight the individual victories of GATE teachers and showcase the value they bring to the profession. 

We've had several teachers from those early cohorts who have gone on to leadership positions. Jasmine Ford, from the very first cohort, is currently a technology facilitator in the district. 

Beth Spence is an assistant principal at Ralph Chandler. Emily Tyler from a very early cohort has gone on to receive her doctorate. Lots of strong leadership is coming through the GATE program. 

Several of our teachers have received Teacher of the Year at their schools, which is a recognition that reflects the respect and value these GATE teachers have in their own school community. Two years ago, Anne Fagala became the first GATE teacher to receive National Board Certification.

Catherine Schumacher:

Which is a big deal.

Dr. Candice Moore:

A huge milestone in her professional journey and the profession in general. It really is a huge accomplishment. 

This past year, Jon Moldovan was recognized as the first-year Teacher of the Year. He has been selected as a top-five finalist in the state. That's a super impressive accomplishment that highlights his strong start and dedication to excellence in the classroom.

Conclusion and Final Reflections

Catherine Schumacher:

That was a special treat because PEP sponsors those First Class Teacher awards for first-year teachers. That was like the perfect storm, the Venn diagram of things that we do. 

GATE is so interesting. The narrative about GATE pushes back on this idea that people don't want to become teachers. One of the great things about the program is that it has been such a positive pathway for folks who feel that calling. 

It's a calling, but it's also a profession. What's beautiful about GATE is it creates all that professional support for the people who feel that call. 

You are a superstar. I know how hard you work and how much you deeply care about this program, and your leadership has really evolved it. 

Thank you on behalf of the community and as a parent whose kiddos have had GATE-trained teachers during their journey through Greenville County Schools.

Dr. Candice Moore:

Mine too.

Catherine Schumacher:

It's so great. Thank you, Candice, for joining us today and for this conversation. Congratulations.

Dr. Candice Moore:

Thank you.