(Delaware and Chester Counties, PA)—Two of the Downingtown Area School District’s newest teachers this fall, Leah Cramer and Lauren Klunk, began their journey to their new positions while still in high school.

As students in the first Downingtown Teacher Academy cohort with Delaware County Community College, they were able to earn 13 college credits, experience field observation opportunities in Downingtown Area School District (DASD)—and obtain a guaranteed interview for a contract position with the District upon earning their Pennsylvania Department of Education Instructional I certificate.

The Downingtown Teacher Academy is a one-year high school dual enrollment program designed to give high school students a jumpstart on a career in PreK-12 education. For eligible high school seniors, it is currently offered at no cost to the students’ families, thanks to a donation from an anonymous donor to DCCC.

“It is an innovative, grow-your-own solution to the teacher shortage in Pennsylvania, and a definitive statement from DASD that we are invested in nurturing the next generation of talented educators,” said the District’s Supervisor of Teaching & Learning Troy Podell, Ed.D. “We’re incredibly proud of Leah and Lauren, and the full-circle moment that welcoming them home to Downingtown is for our whole community.”

Through afternoon classes at DCCC’s Downingtown Center and full participation in high school life, students in the Downingtown Teacher Academy benefit from comprehensive educational experience. Alongside the 13 college credits from DCCC, students earn a total of four credits toward their DASD diploma for the coursework, all with the highest GPA weighting offered by the district, according to Dr. Podell.

The Downingtown Teacher Academy is just one of DCCC’s Structured Pathways programs, which consist of courses agreed upon with the high school/school district and the College. Students do a specific course sequence, and they graduate high school with 13 college credits—without missing any of their high school senior year experiences.

“Thanks to our partnership with DCCC, we are building a pipeline program for hiring good teachers,” Dr. Podell says. “In future years, we’re looking forward to welcoming home more of our young people who themselves had great experiences in DASD schools, to provide amazing experiences for the next generation.”

In addition to the Downingtown Teacher Academy, DASD offers multiple other Structured Pathways Dual Enrollment programs with DCCC. These include a 12 DCCC-college-credit career exploratory program and numerous healthcare certifications, and the Downingtown Advantage Program in which students can earn 20 college credits during their senior year in DASD. Most compelling of all, students in DASD have a pathway to earn an associate’s degree alongside the high school diploma, granting them junior status in their first year out of high school at most colleges and universities.

The economics of higher education no longer support the “traditional” four-year model, Dr. Podell says. “The cost/benefit math for the four-year degree is no longer in the favor of the child. When you look at the U.S. Department of Education data, you are not in the black on your bachelor’s degree until you’ve been working full-time for 15 years.

“My mission is to bend that cost curve back in the kids’ favor. All college-bound students need to take dual enrollment classes.”

In partnership with Delaware County Council, DCCC also offers the Future Educators Certificate of Competency, whereby high school juniors can now attend the College at no cost and earn up to 38 credits toward an associate degree in education. For more information, visit dccc.edu/dualenrollment.