Partnership with Gateway helped to make it possible

A growing number of East Troy High School students seeking to become certified nursing assistants has resulted in the school setting up its own, in-school lab to provide training in the in-demand health care field.

A partnership with Gateway Technical College has helped to spur the development of the lab which will officially open at a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 1 p.m. Nov. 11.

“East Troy High School is excited to present our state-of-the-art certified nursing assistant lab here on campus,” said principal Stacey Kuehn. “This exciting addition will enable us to offer the Nursing Assistant program on campus taught by an instructor from Gateway Technical College during our school day.”

Kuehn said prior to offering the course at the high school, students enrolled in the course through Gateway and traveled to Gateway’s Elkhorn Campus to take the course. The high school worked to repurpose one of its classrooms to become an advanced training lab for their nursing assistant students.

“Student feedback indicated that travel was a barrier to accessing the course which promoted the district exploring options to host the course here at ETHS,” she said. “The partnership with Gateway will strengthen our already robust Healthcare Pathway.”

Students take the coursework through a contract for service agreement with Gateway, a program where high school students can receive college training and earn college credit. Nursing assistant students take 75 hours of classwork as well as 16 hours of clinical work. Courses are taught by Gateway instructors, either on-site at a Gateway campus or in a high school lab or classroom.

“We’re happy with this development of the lab at the high school,” said Katie Graf, Gateway director of High School Partnerships. “Students who take this class in the morning can now seamlessly go on to their high school classes once it’s done.

“Students who choose to earn this credential are well on their way to their career. They are earning a technical diploma before they even graduate high school, allowing them to start working as a CNA right away – and they earn those credits free of charge.”

Gateway worked with East Troy to ensure that the lab met state requirements to become a certified training center, including the need for specific equipment and other health care related items, Graf said. Funds were made possible for the work through a CTE Incentive Grant. For questions directed to East Troy High School, please contact principal Stacey Kuehn, (262) 642-6760 Ext. 524, or kuesta@easttroy.k12.wi.us.