GATE Program expands to include art, dance, music and theater

Soon, more people than ever will be able to fulfill their dream of becoming of a teacher. Starting next year, the Greenville Alternative Teacher Education (GATE) program will add elementary music, art, drama, dance, band, and orchestra to its successful lineup of teaching specialties.

“This opens a door for people who hold a degree in a fine arts area to pursue their teacher certification. These are people who look forward to working in a profession where they can truly make a difference,” said program director Dr. Candice Moore. 

GATE is an innovative three-year pathway to becoming a teacher for Greenville County Schools. It is offered to people who hold a bachelor’s degree or higher and have a strong commitment to teach in a specific field. 

“People who pursue the GATE Program are looking for a change and a challenge. A lot of the candidates we have seen had an inclination to teach all along, but their pathway to teaching looked a little bit different,” Moore said.

Those enrolled in the GATE Program can pursue any of the core content areas, including math, science, social studies and English. They can also choose between elementary, special ed, business and foreign language pathways.

GATE pools for the 2024-25 school year are now open. Visit the GATE page for more information.