ADULT EDUCATION NEWSLETTER Volume 2/Issue 9 May 6-10 is the week set aside to honor our teachers this year. During this time, people are encouraged to show thanks to teachers for the hard work that they put in. But it isn’t only this week that teachers should be celebrated and recognized. Teachers pour so much into their students. They can be a boost of confidence when one is really needed. They give extra help when students are having trouble. They often give structure when much in a student’s life can be out of control. To our Adult Education students, they can be a welcoming presence in an academic setting—a setting where they have not always experienced success. Though we know we can never thank them enough, we can take a moment during National Teacher Appreciation Week to show our appreciation for the special educators in our lives. ADULT EDUCATION Newsletter April-May 2019 IN THIS ISSUE Teacher Appreciation Page 1 Meet ATU Ozark Teachers Page 2 COABE Conference Page 3 Top 25 GED ® Scorers Page 4 Programs Recognized Page 5 UAM-CT McGehee Page 6 Upcoming Events Page 7 Helpful Resources Page 7 Adult Education Celebrates Teacher Appreciation Week May 7, 2019 National Teacher Appreciation Day
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ADULT EDUCATION NEWSLETTER Volume 2/Issue 9
May 6-10 is the week set aside to honor our teachers this year. During this time, people are encouraged to show thanks to teachers for the hard work that they put in.
But it isn’t only this week that teachers should be celebrated and recognized.
Teachers pour so much into their students. They can be a boost of confidence when one is really needed. They give extra help when students are having trouble. They often give structure when much in a student’s life can be out of control. To our Adult Education students, they can be a welcoming presence in an academic setting—a setting where they have not always experienced success.
Though we know we can never thank them enough, we can take a moment during National Teacher Appreciation Week to show our appreciation for the special educators in our lives.
Arkansas Tech University-Ozark If you take a look at the teaching staff at ATU-Ozark and you’ll find a wealth of experience. A few of their full-time instructors are evidence.
Shirley Freeman 26 years of Adult Education service
Shirley began her Adult Education teaching career in June of 1993, in Clarksville. After teaching for five years, she served as the Adult Education Director for Johnson County from July 1998 to June 2012, and then returned back to teaching. Presently, she teaches ESL classes at Tyson Upward Academy and ABE classes at the Clarksville center. One of Shirley’s favorite quotes: “Treat people as if they were what they ought to be, and you help them become what they are capable of becoming.” Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Christy McCollough 13 years of Adult Education service
Adult Education service, 13 years. Christy began her Adult Education career at the Logan County Adult Education center in Booneville. Christy runs an entire satellite center on her own, doing everything from intake and data entry to teaching all levels and testing. Christy’s favorite day of the week is Monday, and she is known for her 5:30 am singing. Through thick and thin, Christy will always find a way to smile.
James Anderson Serving Adult Education since October 2018
James runs one of our newest satellite centers in Paris, at the Tyson Foods Logan County Career Center. He
teaches all levels. James has a knack for recruitment and building new partnerships.
Jessica Pipkins 12 years of Adult Education service
Jessica came to Johnson County Adult Education center in 2007 after serving as a HS Mathematics Instructor. Jessica is a certified CDF, WAGE instructor, ABE/ASE and ESL instructor, and has earned two Master’s degrees during her tenure at ATU-Ozark. Jessica loves to travel with her husband and two children.
Emily Morrow Serving Adult Education since January 2018
Emily is the full time instructor at the main center in Ozark. Emily teaches all levels. Emily came to Adult Ed from K-12 and absolutely loves it.
Teacher profiles submitted by Regina Olson, Director of Adult Education, Arkansas Tech-Ozark (Franklin, Johnson, and Logan Counties)
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COABE Conference
Adult educators from Arkansas attended the 2019 COABE National Conference held in New Orleans, Louisiana, at the New Orleans Marriott on March 31-April 3, 2019. From all accounts the conference was an amazing opportunity for professional growth and networking. COABE’s mission is to inspire educators so adults succeed and communities thrive. The Coalition on Adult Basic Education exists to provide leadership, communication, professional development, and advocacy for adult education and literacy practitioners to advance quality services for all adult learners. COABE represents the field of 55,000 adult educators and provides a variety of services, including professional development through annual, state-of-the-art national conferences, more than 40 webinars annually, and a peer reviewed journal. COABE also recently launched an award winning national public awareness campaign and an advocacy campaign that has enabled more than 50,000 connections with legislators since April 2017. Now that the 2019 conference is over, save the date for next year's COABE conference in Baltimore, Maryland, April 5-8, 2020.
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Top 25 Award Recipients
#1 Raven Leggett North Arkansas College Adult Education Center
#3 Ashlee Biggs NorthWest Arkansas Community College Adult Education Center
#5 Torsten Radke Arkansas Technical University Ozark Adult Education Center
#6 Aaron Gutierrez Fort Smith Adult Education Center
#7 Maddie Deaver Arkansas Northeastern College Adult Education Center
#10 Nicholas Hill UA Pulaski Technical College Adult Education Center
#10 Alexander Robertson Arkansas Baptist College Adult Education Center
#12 Zachary Holland UA Community College – Batesville Adult Education Center
#13 Elias Houser Northwest Technical Institute Adult Education Center
#14 Dusten Martin Arkansas Correctional School District
#14 Rylee Creed Southern Arkansas University – Tech Adult Education Center
#14 Samantha Pfeiffer Fayetteville Adult Education Center
#15 Jon English Arkansas Baptist College Adult Education Center
#16 Karena Benoit Southeast Arkansas College Adult Education Center
#17 Coy Lewis NorthWest Arkansas Community College Adult Education Center
#18 Patrick Efird College of the Ouachitas Adult Education Center
#19 Taylor Massey UA Community College – Morrilton Adult Education Center
#20 Arissa Farmer Arkansas State University – Newport Adult Education Center
#20 Christopher Martin Arkansas Correctional School District Adult Education Center
#21 Nathali Meza NorthWest Arkansas Community CollegeAdult Education Center
#23 Brandon Andujar Fort Smith Adult Education Center
#23 Lydia Jett Fort Smith Adult Education Center
#24 Chance Lund Arkansas Baptist College Adult Education Center
#24 Dusty Luttrull Arkansas Northeastern College Adult Education Center
#25 Robert Cotton Black River Technical College Adult Education Center
#25 Morgan Dixon NorthWest Arkansas Community College Adult Education Center
#25 Rebecca Roberts Arkansas State University – Newport Adult Education Center
Top 25 Scorers Honored
The Adult Education Division of the Arkansas Department of Career Education, honored the top 25 scorers on the GED® test in 2018 at a ceremony on Friday, April 26 in the Rotunda of the State Capitol Building in Little Rock.
The elite group was presented awards commemorating their scores and to mark the beginning of their new lives with the credential. Friends, family, legislators and educators applauded the efforts as the awards were presented by Dianne Doyle (High School Equivalency Program Administrator), Dr. Trenia Miles (Arkansas Career Education/Adult Education Deputy Director), Dr. Charisse Childers (Arkansas Career Education Director), and state Senator Jane English.
The keynote speaker was Dr. Gordon Johnson, Adjunct Professor in the Scholars College at Arkansas Baptist College in Little Rock. Dr. Johnson challenged the awardees to let earning the GED credential be their first step in continuing their education. Arkansas consistently ranks as one of the top states with the highest pass rates on the test. In 2018, Arkansas had a pass rate of 88 percent, which surpassed the national pass rate of 80 percent. Arkansas’ high pass rate can be largely attributed to the collaborative effort between our dedicated teachers and our determined students. Culinary students from Arkansas Career Training Institute prepared and served the refreshments at a reception following the ceremony.
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Adult Education Programs Recognized
Adult Education providers were recognized for program achievements at the 2019 Spring Administrators’ Meeting (April 24-25). Congratulations to the administrators, teachers and staff on their exceptional performance in the following areas.
Highest E&E (Over 400 Students) - National Park College
Honorable Mention: Highest E&E Over 400 Students - Van Buren School District
Highest E&E (Under 400 Students) - ASU Mountain Home
Honorable Mention: Highest E&E (Under 400 Students) - Ozarka College
Highest Retention (Over 400 Students) - Russellville School District
Honorable Mention: Highest Retention (Under 400 Students) - Phillips Community College
Most Improved E&E (Over 400 Students) – NorthWest Arkansas Community College
Honorable Mention: Most Improved E&E (Over 400 Students) - National Park College
Most Improved E&E (Under 400 Students) - Ozark Literacy Council
Honorable Mention: Most Improved E&E (Under 400 Students) - South Arkansas
Community College
Recognition for Programs serving Correctional Facilities
Adult Education Programs with 25% or more of participants in a correctional environment.
Improved E&E
Pulaski County Special School District
College of the Ouachitas
East Arkansas Community College
Around the State
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UAM College of Technology-McGehee
Partnership On April 6, 2019, as a partnership between SEAEDD (WIOA), NATF, UAM-CT-McGehee: Adult Education and SAF Holland, a pilot welding pre-apprenticeship program was launched in Southeast Arkansas. The initiative was created from a need to assist Desha County employer – SAF Holland – identify skilled workers to meet business demands. The company expressed workforce challenges and the need to train more welders to fill vacant positions.
NATF, as the training provider for the initiative, worked with SAF Holland and other partners to create a curriculum and training schedule that would be most conducive to meet DOL standards, while also making it convenient for interested students to attend without barriers. A five-weekend schedule was developed and students were recruited by SAF Holland, WIOA, Adult Education, Arkansas Career Training Institute (ACTI), and Arkansas Rehabilitation Services (ARS). The composition of the class consists of individuals who are unemployed or underemployed, have significant barriers to employment and those who are young adults who before this training, lacked marketable skills to secure or retain a job. Tuition assistance was provided by WIOA, assessments and meeting facilities were provided by Adult Education and transportation was provided by ACTI. Prior to the completion of the program- several students from the original sixteen were offered full time positions by SAF Holland, resulting in immediate earnings increase. The program will culminate on Saturday, May 4th with a closing ceremony, in which students will be awarded a certificate of completion. The students will interview with SAF Holland and other local employers to secure full-time employment with plans to transition into the Welding Registered Apprenticeship program. The partnership plans to branch out to other areas in Southeast Arkansas to provide similar training, in various industries, in collaboration with employers and community colleges in the region.
ADULT EDUCATION NEWSLETTER | Volume 2/Issue 9 7
ADULT EDUCATION
Newsletter
Adult Education Division Arkansas Department of Career Education Three Capitol Mall, Little Rock, Arkansas 72201
501-682-1970
ARCareerEducation.org
Upcoming Events
Spring WIOA Partners Meeting – May 14-15 (Hot Springs)
Adult Education Teacher Summit – July 29-30
(Embassy Suites/Little Rock)
Helpful Resources
The Arkansas Adult Learning Resource Center (AALRC)
has published the 2018-19 Catalog of scheduled professional development and training. For a full list of upcoming professional development opportunities, please
COABE post-conference information https://www.coabe.org/conference-2019
Tuesdays for Teachers Webinar Series Tuesdays for Teachers is a free professional development webinar series designed for educators. This bi-monthly webinar series will take a deeper dive into classroom
strategies and techniques for the GED® test. https://ged.com/educators_admins/teaching/professional_development/webinars/
