Promising Practices Concurrent Sessions for August 11, 2009

Promoting Transition and College Success
Tamara Clunis, director of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board’s Adult and Developmental Education initiatives, presents an overview of the Coordinating Board’s efforts to facilitate successful student transitions. Tamara is new to THECB but has a background in both Adult Education and Developmental Education. She facilitates the Intensive Summer Programs, a grant-based initiative to promote successful transition and college success for recent GED graduates. Summer programs are designed to provide academically at-risk students opportunities to gain skills associated with persistence and success in college. Tamara.clunis@thecb.state.tx.us

The Lexile Framework: Assisting Learners with Transition to Workforce and Post Secondary Studies
John Stevenson, grant services manager with Texas LEARNS presents the Lexile Framework for Transition to the Workforce. The Lexile Framework is a scientific approach to reading measurement that matches readers to text, measuring both reader ability and text difficulty on the Lexile Scale. Recent work has begun on postsecondary career pathways materials and freshman studies texts. The lexile enables educators and employers to assess students’ reading levels and prepare to address the gaps between proficiency and need. jstevenson@hcde-texas.org

LEAP: Preparing Adults for Post Secondary Options
Learn, engage, aspire, and prosper is the mantra for this holistic approach to postsecondary transition. In a partnership with El Paso’s Adult Education programs, EPCC fills the postsecondary role in a two phase transition initiative. Sara Martinez is Manager for Literacy Programs at El Paso Community College. Sara provides an update on the experiences of the first three cohorts, and describes lessons learned from this growing transition program. Maricarmen Casavantes, Workplace Literacy Coordinator, provides a brief summary of the college’s work with scholarship initiatives. saram@epcc.edu, mcasava1@epcc.edu

Partners in Transition
ESC Region 20 showcases its GED Health Career Class / AACOG Partnership in Pleasanton. Jackie Martin is adult education supervisor for Region 20 jacklyn.martin@esc20.net and Nancy Barrientos is a case manager with the Pleasanton Workforce Center.

I-BEST: Home Grown Initiatives
David Borden, Executive Director of Adult Education at Austin Community College presents I-BEST like initiatives (ESL/CNA; Dental Assistant; Administrative Assistant, and ESL/Construction) being implemented at Austin Community College. Adult and postsecondary education are strong partners in support of adult English language learners. dborden@austincc.edu

TISESL: Adapting to Your Community
An adult education director shares experiences implementing the copyrighted Texas Industry Specific ESL (TISESL) curricula (healthcare, sales and service, and manufacturing) now available to adult education providers and their partners (workforce development, community colleges, community based organizations). The presentation focuses on how the programs have adapted TISESL to respond to local needs. The new employability website will also be highlighted. Melissa Nitu is Director of Adult Education at Seguin ISD, serving Comal, Guadalupe, and Kendall Counties (mnitu@seguin.k12.tx.us). Denise Guckert is grants coordinator and TISESL trainer for the Central Texas GREAT Center housed at Texas State University in San Marcos. dg21@txstate.edu

Distance Learning Hands On!
Distance learning is a fairly new initiative in adult and developmental education. After a year and a half of trial and error, distance learning has become an effective tool to reach adult learners and adapt and expand their learning environments at Midland College. Lynda Webb is Dean of Adult and Developmental Education at Midland College. In the past six months, students have logged more than 300,000 hours and accessed workplace and academic skills at their convenience. lwebb@midland.edu

 

Panel Presentation – TWC Grantees for August 10, 2009
The Alamo Colleges, Economic & Workforce Development KellyUSA Building 210 312 Tinker Dr. San Antonio, Texas 78226 210-587-4444. The Alamo Colleges do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability with respect to access, employment programs, or services. Inquiries or complaints concerning these matters should be brought to the attention of: Director of Human Resources, Title IX Coordinator, 210/208-8051. Address: Human Resources Department, 201 W. Sheridan, Bldg. AA, San Antonio, Texas 78204. For questions or comments concerning this page please contact nmorales51@mail.accd.edu.