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ANDERSON CHECKS A STUDENT’S WORKINSERRARMU provide strong content knowledge and teachingpreparation to ensure our students succeed in all types ofeducational settings. And that’s why they excel at placeslike City High.”City High and RMU share common goals. Both emphasizeprofessionalism and career preparation, and both puta premium on real-world readiness and active,engaged learning.“Teachers who graduate RMU’s Business, Computers andInformation Technology program are a key to our school’ssuccess,” says City High Principal/CEO and co-founderRichard Wertheimer, Ph.D. “They are leaders in both ourtechnology and career programming.”City High is different than your average public school –and it was designed to be that way. The school centers arounda career readiness and post-high school planning curriculum,which is meant to engage students in a focused program thatleads to greater awareness of employment opportunities.City High’s students spend close to 200 hours investigatingcareers, participating in real-world simulations and preparingfor life after graduation. The program culminates in a130-hour internship at a local company or organization.The school also puts great emphasis on providing atechnology-infused learning environment. Everystudent and staff member receives a laptop, and all parents,students and staff can access student records, grades,attendance and assignments via the Internet.Throughout their time at City High, all students receiveinstruction on research, a fundamental workforce skill thatalso helps them with their senior project. These projects mustinclude a 10-page research report, and they require thestudent to create something – a book, a fashion show forcancer awareness, a community basketball league, etc.Students must also write a blog, create both a PowerPointpresentation and a website, and finally present in front of apanel of professionals from the community.City High serves over 500 students in grades 9 through 12,81 percent of which come from the Pittsburgh school district;the rest are from 23 area districts. Unlike at other schools,City High’s teachers stay with the same 156 students for theentire four years they’re at the school. “The key element ofthe program is the looping concept,” says Wertheimer. “Everystudent at City High has a team of eight to 10 teachers that‘loops’ with the student from 9th grade through graduation.This consistency and continuity of support and instruction isthe key to our success.”This new way of thinking has propelled City High to theforefront in secondary education, and it’s creating quite a1 2 • W W W. R M U . E D U