When Connor first arrived at The Pathway School in sixth grade, he was going through a challenging time. On the Autism Spectrum and struggling with anger management, he needed a place where he could feel supported and understood.
He was assigned a Personal Care Assistant (PCA) to help him manage his challenges and succeed in the classroom. “The Pathway School helped reinforce my goals and keep me on track when I was going through a difficult time,” he said. “My PCAs met me where I was and helped me work through struggles I was facing at the time.”
The staff at Pathway recognized Connor’s potential in the classroom: “Mrs. Prestia and Mrs. Antinucci took me seriously, pushed me, and saw the good in me. They gave me extra work so I could continue to grow academically,” he shared. The encouragement he received from staff helped him gain confidence and discover his strengths.
Building Friendships and Gaining Confidence
During his three years at Pathway, Connor did not just grow academically – he made strong friendships that continue to this day. His favorite memory? Meeting friends that he is still in touch with today.
This connection to others and sense of belonging gave him the boost he needed to return to his home school district in 2020. This is a goal of The Pathway School – to ensure that students learn the skills they need to succeed in their next phase of life.
Reaching New Heights
Once back in his district, Connor dual-enrolled at a technical school for Computer Networking and Cybersecurity. He earned college credits while gaining hands-on experience. At the same time, he worked in his family business as an IT Support Technician, putting his skills to use right away.
Now a student at Champlain College, Connor is majoring in Computer Networking and Cybersecurity. His hard work is paying off: he was previously promoted to Team Lead while working as a Network Systems Engineer and now works as a Junior Solutions Engineer at Simple Route, an IT service provider. He enjoys working directly with clients and solving problems.
“One thing I learned during my education at The Pathway School and Champlain College is that when someone can be technical and also work as a people person, they will be successful,” he said.
Looking to the Future
Connor is on track to graduate a year early and is currently pursuing his Cisco CCNP certification. He credits much of his success to the support he received at The Pathway School.
“I am very grateful for my time at Pathway,” he said. “It provided me with a strong foundation to become the best version of myself and pursue my dreams.”
Pathway is more than a school – it’s a gateway for students to discover their strengths and follow their dreams. We are so proud of Connor and cannot wait to see what his future holds.