31 Jul 2021 Team work is making dreams work
By Mary Clark
George Lucas, creator of the “Star Wars” and “Indiana Jones” franchises, said, “Education is the single most important job of the human race.” For employees of the Adult Education Centers, helping individuals earn their high school equivalency is also a labor of love.
The University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton operates adult education centers in Conway, Faulkner, Perry, and Van Buren counties. The adult education centers, a section of the Arkansas Division of Workforce Services, provide GED preparation and testing, English as a Second Language (ESL) classes, WAGE job readiness training, career readiness certificates, TABE skills assessment testing, and basic skills refresher courses, with most services free of charge. Since program year 2017-18, the centers have served more than 3,300 students with more than 300 earning their GED credential.
Kim Darling serves as director of UACCM Adult Education, a position she has held since 2015. She first joined the college in 1994 and became the division chair for community education in 2010. When she became director of adult education, the program comprised centers in Morrilton and Perryville.
Darling navigated the July 2017 expansion of the program into two additional counties and said absorbing the Clinton and Conway adult education programs was a task that required tremendous attention to detail. She stated, “My goal was to ensure that students in Clinton and Conway would experience a seamless transition into enrollment with the UACCM program, and I am pleased the merger process went extremely well.”
Darling continued, “Any accomplishment a student achieves is a source of inspiration; each accomplishment is significant. As the program director, watching adult learners gain self-confidence and acquire new skills sets is rewarding to me. In addition, assembling a dynamic team of adult education employees that strives to help adult learners achieve their educational and career goals is my top priority.”
Working in the field of adult education provides numerous sources of inspiration on a daily basis. The UACCM Adult Education program serves a vast array of adult learners between the ages of 18 and 70+ years of age. Each student has a unique story to share. While the backgrounds of students vary drastically, the students share common goals – to improve their basic academic skills and enhance their quality of life.
The teachers and staff of the four UACCM Adult Education Centers are as diverse as the students. These employees strive to help adult students establish educational and career goals through not only academic instruction but also motivation, encouragement, and coaching. They empower their students by helping them identify and remove barriers to success.
Denise Wells, administrative specialist at the Morrilton facility said, “I am thankful to work with each student who walks through our doors. Being a GED graduate myself, I know how difficult and scary that first step can be. I feel that having been on the other side of the desk as a former GED student, I can relate to these individuals on a more personal level. I understand their fears and apprehensions better than most.”
Ashley Dickson, an administrative specialist and GED examiner at the Conway location, echoed Wells’ sentiments. Her favorite part of working in adult education is “getting to know individuals from all walks of life.”
Amy Lawrence and Christy Koeth taught on the elementary, high school, and college levels in public school districts prior to joining UACCM Adult Education. Lawrence loved working with children but considers her time in the world of adult education as the most fulfilling. Koeth, the ESL teacher for Faulkner County, said she loves serving the ESL students.
Another rewarding aspect of working in the field of adult education is helping adults explore career clusters and identify career pathways that will allow them to advance toward a chosen career field. Many students wish to upgrade their existing skill sets to prepare for better job opportunities that will provide a family-sustaining wage.
Vicki Shadell is the SNAP Employment and Training case manager for Conway, Faulkner, Perry, and Van Buren counties. She has worked in nonprofit, government, and private sector management and training capacities for more than 30 years. Shadell assists members of SNAP households in gaining skills, training, work, or experience that will increase their ability to obtain regular employment. She considers helping others identify and reach their goals to be her favorite part of the job.
Darling observed that for those who work in the field of adult education, the greatest rewards are often experienced during GED® graduation ceremonies. Watching students, their family members, and friends beam with pride on graduation day is a source of joy that words cannot explain.
On July 16, the UACCM Adult Education program held a graduation ceremony for 123 individuals who completed their GED during the past two years. In addition to that accomplishment, 27 of the graduates qualify for UACCM’s GED Achievement Scholarship. This scholarship is a $1,000 tuition waiver per semester for GED graduates who scored in the top 10% on the GED exam statewide. Students must enroll in at least 12 hours their first semester at UACCM, and the scholarship is renewable for up to three additional semesters based on their grade-point average.
All GED graduates in Arkansas qualify for the GED Opportunity Scholarship that provides a tuition waiver for three credit hours at UACCM. This award allows students to take one college class and decide if they want to continue their education to the next level.
The old adage, “The more you learn, the more you earn,” rings true when comparing salaries of high school graduates versus those with less than a high school diploma. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, GED and high school graduates earn an average of $8,000 more annually than those without a high school diploma. There are many other rewards that come with completing the GED credential: enhanced career opportunities; a greater sense of self-worth; and the increased security of providing for one’s family.
Darling reflected, “The scope of the educational services we provide reaches far beyond the classroom. By helping adult learners succeed, the UACCM Adult Education program contributes to the success of our local communities. I believe local communities thrive when adult learners improve their level of education and acquire job readiness skills.”
For the UACCM Adult Education team, there is great satisfaction in helping an adult learner reach his or her full potential. Seeing the smile on the face of a student who is heading to the next step, whether college or a career, is the ultimate reward. Working in the world of adult education isn’t just a job – it’s a true calling.
UACCM Adult Education Centers
Morrilton & Perryville:
501.215.4904
Conway:
501.358.4299
Clinton:
501.745.5666
Individuals can begin classes any time of the year because they are self-paced. The GED exam has four sections and each one costs $4 to take. Services such as adult basic education classes, ESL and WAGE are free of charge.
