Our Staff

College Gate® & College Academy® is a family-owned and operated organization that employs the best staff to become part of our team. Staff members are selected by program owners Chris and Lisa Harrington to reflect the program’s core values, which have provided a summer experience that has lasted a lifetime since 1979.

Instructors have been selected for their expertise, experience, enthusiasm, creativity, and high energy. They come from a broad range of backgrounds, are uniquely talented, and create a relaxed setting to ensure that each student’s experience is exciting and enjoyable. We encourage our staff to challenge students through a series of engaging and interactive hands-on experiences.

Background checks are performed on every staff member, including but not limited to Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI), Sexual Offender Registry Information (SORI), and personal and professional reference verification. Additionally, all staff members participate in our intensive training prior to the start of the program.

We are most proud of the fact that many of our staff were program participants who returned to make a positive impact on our students and provide a nurturing, dynamic summer experience.

Each program works collaboratively as a team, and our tiered staff structure of administrators, instructors, and counselors allows us to personalize the student/parent experience.

Administrators, who are also the owners, oversee the daily operation of the program, have a combined 70 years of experience with the organization, and are certified in first aid and CPR.

Counselors are former students who have successfully completed the CIT program and provide daily support to administrators and instructors. They have also been selected because of their enthusiasm, creativity, and high energy.

Health and Safety

The summer of 2021 was a success! We had over 600 students during six weeks with zero COVID-19 transmission! Truly, it was “A Summer Experience That Lasts A Lifetime,” where countless memories were made!

For the past 46 years, nothing has ever been more important to us than the health, safety, and well-being of our College Gate® and College Academy® families. For this reason, each aspect of the program has been designed with the student’s well-being in mind.

We ensure that all staff are aware of each child’s needs and maintain an Instructor to student ratio of 10:1 or less. Our program Administrators are certified and trained in pediatric first aid and CPR.

Child with science experiment

If the COVID-19 virus continues this summer, College Gate® and College Academy® staff and students will once again implement protocols such as zero-contact environment, mask-wearing, social distancing, daily health screening, promoting healthy hygiene practices, as well as enhanced sanitizing and cleaning. We will continue to monitor local and state guidance and provide updates as needed. 

The online student application contains a specific list of health and safety protocols. To complete the registration process, a parent/guardian will review and sign the Health and Safety Protocols and Waiver for 2024. If protocols or restrictions change, parents will be notified through email prior to or during the program.