When Gateway Academy first opened its doors in 2006, the idea of a “campus” was more dream than reality. What began in borrowed spaces has grown into a vibrant home on Dacoma Street, a place full of color, energy, and confident students thriving.

Then: Borrowed Spaces and Broken Wires

Before the very first school year, the Gillette building, Gateway’s original location, was stripped of its copper wiring in a break-in. The school could not pass inspection, leaving the founding team scrambling. “Our first days were held in borrowed spaces with nothing but determination and belief,” remembered Dr. Michele Joseph, Founder and Head of School. Even with a waterfall softly cascading down the main staircase on rainy days, students bustled through the halls, undeterred by the building’s challenges!

Gateway’s first “official” location was the YMCA in West University, followed by Southside Community Center, before the Gillette site could finally open. Board Chair Genny Winter chuckled as she recalled looking at real estate options with Dr. Joseph: “We went everywhere, abandoned bars, a fiber factory, even an old massage parlor. We just needed a place to start.”

Those first years were far from easy. Air vents did not work. Bathrooms were outfitted with trough sinks. The halls were constructed so that everyone, students, staff, and parents, needed to pass through Dr. Joseph’s office to print, copy, or get to recess. “It wasn’t grim at all, it was bright,” remembered Steve Tiemann, a founding teacher and current Director of Faculty Advancement.

“We needed to get through the day,” said Scott Adams, COO and founding principal. “Sometimes plans took three days, or it might take three minutes. We were very adaptable.” And yet, amid the chaos, the culture was forming: flexible, scrappy, and always focused on the students.

Now: A Home on Dacoma

In time, Gateway found its permanent home on Dacoma Street. The building had once been a church and school, with a gym that turned out to be perfect for what would become Gateway’s signature FitClub. Year by year, the floorplan evolved. Walls were built and rebuilt, carpet and tile were stripped away, new classrooms added, and the heart of the school came alive.

“Every year we would build new rooms,” Dr. Joseph said. “Randy [Kelley] would just put up new walls. The interior is unrecognizable from when we first walked in.”

Gateway’s staff also brought color, literally. Dr. Joseph let teachers paint their own classrooms. “I painted my room bright orange,” recalled Mr. Kelley, founding teacher and current Assistant Principal. “You were not gonna fall asleep in my room!”

Today, the Dacoma campus buzzes with energy and possibility. It is a place where students grow, explore, and discover their strengths. Learning extends beyond the classroom through programs like FitClub, culinary training, and internships. Students shine on stage in theater productions and come together for unique community events like Family Fun Night, Prom, Grandparents Day, and Alumni Night. Every corner of the campus reflects its roots in resilience and resourcefulness.

*Dr. Joseph, Mr. Adams, and Mr. Kelley putting in work at the Gillette location to move to Dacoma. (2010)*

Story of Transformation

From copper stolen out of walls to students running the mile around campus in FitClub, Gateway’s campus story mirrors the journey of its students: unexpected challenges, scrappy problem-solving, and ultimately, transformation.

“It never dawned on me that we weren’t going to get to this point,” Winter said. From the humble beginnings at Gillette, where every challenge felt monumental, to the bustling halls of our Dacoma campus, Gateway has transformed. Middle schoolers dash by, laughter trailing behind them. Seniors move with focus and confidence, wearing their internship uniforms and carrying the skills they’ve worked so hard to build. Every hallway, classroom, and office tells a story of resilience, growth, and ambition. Gateway’s journey from modest start to thriving community shows a place where every student is stepping boldly into their future.

Then and Now: Gateway Campus

Then: Borrowed Spaces and Broken Wires

Now: A Home on Dacoma

Story of Transformation

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