Gateway Technical College staff members Katie Graf and Sara Skowronski were honored with a Wisconsin Association of School Boards 2021 WASB Business Honor Roll award for their work with Elmbrook School District high-schoolers.

Graf, director of Gateway’s High School Partnerships, and Skowronski, chair of the college’s Nursing Assistant program, made it possible for Elmbrook students to take the coursework required for certified nursing assistant training.

“Gateway was flexible during the pandemic, delivering instruction online and providing clinical experience in the Brookfield East medical lab,” WASB said in honoring the Gateway leaders.

The district had initially created a lab with another training program. It tried to continue to offer a CNA training program to its students during the COVID-19 pandemic, but was unable to find a local program to do so. They reached out to Graf and Skowronski, who were able to create a program – and provide state-approved lab space – for students to gain CNA skills.

A total of 55 Elmbrook students participated in CNA training during the 2020-21 School Year. Those who completed the program each earned a technical diploma and two Gateway credits.