Day in and day out, Stephanie Moran teaches adults working to improve their lives through education. The high school equivalency program manager at the
“Stephanie’s commitment to quality education is evident in each of her interactions with students and teachers,” center Executive Director Teresa Malone said.
“She has a special way to making everyone feel valued and welcome.”
In addition to her work at the Durango Adult Education Center, Moran has served on the Colorado Adult Education Professional Association board of directors and on multiple statewide committees working on assessment and curriculum.
She may be best known in the community for her role as a member of the Durango School District 9-R school board, where she holds the position of secretary/treasurer.
“She has the quintessential New Jersey – where she’s from – attitude,” said Andy Burns, president of the 9-R board.
“She’s hard-headed, but soft-hearted. I’ve seen her in action with her GED students, and she’s not just punching a clock, she’s invested in teaching and learning.”
Moran sets high standards for her students and also teaches decision-making and life skills to her students as they learn content, he said. The results she and her GED teachers achieve with their students are impressive: 94 percent of the Durango Adult Education Center students pass the GED tests, as compared with 77 percent in Colorado and 63 percent nationwide.
“Our graduation rate is 80 percent, and we’re looking at increasing that rate with students who are at-risk for a variety of reasons,” Burns said.
“Her voice makes a difference with the issues she brings up, because she believes in turning potential into reality, and sees doing that in a rigorous manner in a humane way.”
abutler@durangoherald.com
Durango Adult Education Center (PDF)
