11:00 am ET
OCTAE Greetings and Listening Session
Jen Mishory, Acting Assistant Secretary kicked off national Adult Education and Family Literacy Week for the field of adult education! She brought greetings from the Office of Career and Technical Adult Education (OCTAE).
1:00 pm ET
Legislative Leadership Champion Awards presented to:
Governor Gretchen Whitmer, MI
Congressman Dusty Johnson, SD
Hosted by: Regina Suitt, Public Policy Chair, and President-Elect
2:00 pm ET
Programs Succeed when Learners Lead: Panel on Student Leadership and Grant Launch
Moderated by Kristin Hempel, Students as Leaders Chair
Panelists: Shelley Cheng, Cynthia Eagleton, Sara Haghighi, Carmine Stewart, Joyce Warrington, Marina Kravtsova
Hear from a panel of adult learners, alumni, and adult education staff as they discuss ways that Adult Education creates and facilitates student leadership opportunities that impact the success of students, programs, and communities. COABE also launched the Student Empowerment incentive ($2,500) during this live event!
Shelley Cheng is from China. She is an ESL student and former student council president from 2018 to 2019. Currently, she is a student ambassador, class volunteer, and a member of the Green Team at San Mateo Adult School.
Cynthia Eagleton is a 20 plus year veteran teacher at San Mateo Adult School – ESL plus some years in Parent Ed and Older Adults. She is the Advisor to Green Team and previously advised Student Council. She initiated and managed all social media for her school until 2021. Cynthia has also led on advocacy in various ways and areas – at her school with both students and teachers, with others around the state, and within the teachers union. Visit smaceesl.blogspot.com to see what their students have accomplished on multiple levels and adulteducationmatters.blogspot.com to learn more about advocacy by students and teachers.
Sara Haghighi is a passionate educator who believes in empowering students and raising their critical consciousness about social conditions—both their own and those of others. She scaffolds and encourages her students to read and judge whether the content is substantiated. Her experience as a former refugee and her passion for education have influenced her thinking and interest in social justice for culturally and linguistically diverse students. Sara holds a master’s in TESOL from California State University, Fullerton. She has taught English in a variety of educational levels and settings. She is currently serving as the coordinator of the Refugee Education Program at Pima Community College, Tucson, AZ.
Carmine Stewart, Ph.D. is the author of Representation in Adult Literacy: We Must Do Better. Dr. Stewart is the Vice President of Programming at Seeds of Literacy, a nonprofit organization that provides one-to-one tutoring to adult learners in Cleveland, Ohio.
Joyce Warrington realized the importance of an education after dropping out of school over 30 years ago and wanting to continue her own education. Joyce decided to return back to school and enrolled at POLYTECH Adult Education. She graduated with the class of 2005, received her diploma and became an OAASIS Team Member (Organization of Adult Alumni & Students in Service.) OAASIS allowed Joyce to advocate and legislate on behalf of students to go on to receive their Diploma or GED.
After graduating Joyce enrolled in college and received her Bachelor of Theology degree. She is continuing her educational journey inspiring herself that she can go on and receive her Master Degree. Joyce is a certified Chaplain with the American Association of Registered Chaplains that allows her to go into all state and local prisons as an instructor, facilitator and she is a First Responder. She is an ordained minister as well and an avid supporter of education. Joyce loves to read and her passion is learning and to make every effort to tell students to remember that they have within themselves the strength, patience, and the passion to reach their destiny to change the world.
Marina Kravtsova and her family moved from Russia to the United States 10 years ago. In Russia, Ms. Kravtsova worked at the public school as a child psychologist for 17 years. In California, she began studying English at a low-beginning level at San Mateo Adult School. During her study at SMAS, she served as an Adult Education Advocate, Student Council Officer and a school volunteer. She began working as an English Learner Specialist 5 years ago and also serves as an SMAS Volunteer Coordinator, Student Council co-Advisor and Student Ambassador Co-coordinator.