Since 2012, the Pathways Program in Marin County has offered support to students looking for an alternate senior year that prepares them for college, a career path and guides their passions.

The program requires students to take their mandated classes at San Andreas High School, at least two classes at College of Marin (COM), an internship of their choosing and allows, but doesn’t require, one class at their home-site high school. Pathways coordinator and teacher Alyssa Callahan has been involved in the program for 12 years and detailed the intent behind this scheduling.

“The program, with the college [classes] and the internship, is an opportunity for students to either confirm what they want to do, or test out things that they’re passionate about,” Callahan said.

The program was initially founded as a credit recovery program at San Andreas. Callahan explained how Candace Curtis, the founder and prior coordinator of the program, later changed the program to fit students’ needs. 

“She saw that students were eligible for graduation, but not necessarily ready to graduate. She created this program where you finish your graduation requirements in a small learning community. Then she developed a partnership with College of Marin that allowed kids to take up to 11.5 credits,” Callahan said.

Although the program is great for seniors looking for pre-college credits, students join the program for all different reasons. Given the small, non-traditional setting of the school, students can get more hands-on support compared to larger schools. For senior Pathways student Annabel Lawson, Pathways was able to offer her support in the face of adversity. 

“[In my] sophomore and junior year, my father had cancer and he ended up dying in my junior year. I found that Redwood, although they really did try to be accommodating for my circumstance, was not the best. I still felt a lot of academic pressure. I did Pathways and got more free time [which helped me get] through my grief,” Lawson said. 

Lawson explained that Pathways let her pursue her passion of music through college courses and through an internship at Sweetwater Music Hall in Mill Valley. 

“It’s a little taste of what [I hope to be doing] for the rest of my life after college. Not only have I gotten a lot of experience that I can use after college, but also opportunities and connections that can carry on throughout my life,” Lawson said. 

In fact, her connection through Sweetwater Music Hall has led to additional opportunities like opening for Cat Power at the Masonic Theater in San Francisco. Lawson plans on continuing to study music next fall at Chico State where she will be majoring in Recording Arts.

Tamiscal junior and future Pathways student Annabelle Walker is looking forward to the internship aspect of the program because it can set her up for the future.

“I’m looking to intern with equine animals, probably horses. Hopefully, some type of horse therapist [since I want to pursue] equine therapy,” Walker said.

Callahan mentioned how important it is to have this internship because it lets students test out fields of interest that they might be passionate about, but could be idealizing. 

“I think that most people romanticize things in [their] heads. The internship is [a way students] can get an opportunity to test out a subject with some hands-on experience,” Callahan said. 

An additional requirement is taking at least two classes per semester at COM. This prepares students for a college environment and gives them college credit without taking an Advanced Placement (AP) course. Although attending college-level classes can be daunting, Pathways makes sure to provide help for their students with workshop hours that are similar to a SMART class. 

“Students have to do a certain amount of hours of workshop at our site over the course of the week; it’s a combination of work time and guidance. College of Marin knows how much support [Pathways students get, so] they are allowed to take many classes,” Callahan said. 

The ability to take COM classes is exciting for Walker because it will simulate the traditional college environment.

“I think it’s going to be a different relationship between teachers and students because, [like college], you have to build that relationship yourself with your professors. It’s going to be a challenge for me, but it also will set me up really well for college,” Walker said.

The scheduling also simulates the college experience because it’s flexible and holds very few required classes. Lawson explained how this flexibility lets each student create a path that works for them.

“If you [are] really committed and really want to work towards a goal, you can make that happen. You can [also] take classes that you would have been taking in college and get ahead of the game. Pathways is whatever you make it,” Lawson said.

In mid-December, the district decided to merge Tamiscal onto the San Andreas campus. Pathways students will now be taking their core classes at the San Andreas campus. Despite this change, Callahan knows that it won’t impact the program.

“The nature, the intent and the goals of the program are not changing at all. Pathways is, in a lot of ways, its own little community within a larger community,” Callahan said.

In fact, Callahan sees this location change as an opportunity to meet more new people. Although Pathways students have always met new people due to the program being open to all five Tamalpais Unified High School District (TUHSD) schools, students will now be open to meeting all San Andreas and senior Tamsical students. 

Lawson met people from all of these different schools. She explained how her cohort has bonded through the year and have a strong connection.

“We go on cohort camping trips, fishing trips and we’ll have cohort bonfires. I definitely have felt that connection,” Lawson said.

The program also lets students maintain connections they have from their home-site schools. 

“I can understand a student who’s, for example, been at Redwood for three years and the thought of not being there as a senior can be hard. I wouldn’t want that to be the gatekeeper to [them] joining a program like Pathways,” Callahan said.

Since Pathways wants to keep their students connected, students are free to attend their home-site’s prom, rallies, sport games, clubs, and more. Pathways is about keeping the doors open for students and letting them maintain and make new connections.