The Durango Adult Education Center graduated 20 new GED-diploma recipients during a ceremony Thursday night. This class brings the number of GED diplomas granted to 555 over the last decade, and the achievement has proved to be the start to a better life for most of them.
Students must pass tests on four subjects – science, mathematics, social studies, and reading and writing – to earn a GED diploma.
“There’s a perception that the tests are easy, and it’s wrong,” said Jackie Oros, director of exceptional student services for Durango School District 9-R, who oversees nonadult 9-R students who are pursuing a GED at the center. “It is hard.”
Students may come to the center having been unable to complete high school because of illness, the need to help support their family, bullying or problems at school, homelessness, alcohol or substance abuse issues or other challenges. It’s not always a straight path from beginning to end for adult students who are dealing with jobs, families and other life issues, as graduate Zachary Arnold, 29, found.
“I started at the DAEC at age 17, after leaving school in the 10th grade,” he said. “I was going to night classes and learning, and after a couple of months, I took the GED (tests). I passed everything but math, which I missed by two points.”
He felt he could enter the workforce, but could only find basic labor work such as construction and warehouse work.
“It was on every job application, do you have a high school diploma or equivalent?” he said. “I got tired of the same day-in, day-out jobs, with no progress.”
Arnold ran into several problems after deciding to get more education, including a yearlong recovery from surgery for a bulging disc in his back and having to redo the complete GED, not just the math section, because the test changed in 2014 and previous scores didn’t count. He’s now studying geographical information systems technology at San Juan College in Farmington and expects to have his certificate in May 2018.
The adult ed center has brought in a number of graduation speakers, but perhaps the most meaningful have been its own graduates.
On Thursday at the Durango Public Library, Kimberly Davis, 39, shared her journey, which has led her to becoming radiological technologist at Mercy Regional Medical Center.
“I didn’t actually earn a GED at the Adult Education Center, because I graduated from Durango High School when I was 17,” she said. “I didn’t do a damn thing until I was 32, so I took multiple math classes, multiple English classes to get the prerequisites required by PCC (Pueblo Community College, now Southwest Colorado Community College). They (the education center) also had a support group and helped me in a hundred different ways.”
Davis showed up at the DAEC at a difficult time in her life.
“I was going through a painful divorce with two kids and getting sober from drugs and alcohol. Some mentors encouraged me to go back to school,” she said. “I told them this was not a good time to be going to going back to school, but they were so helpful.”
The staff were not just teachers, Davis said.
“I did not do it alone,” she said. “They provided a safety net, were supporters and cheerleaders. They were there to encourage, not just educate.”
The Women’s Resource Center provided help with tuition, and the Colorado Workforce Center paid for gas to help her get to 3,000 hours of clinical practice to earn her certificate.
Seven years later, Davis’ life is totally different. “I have a healthy 19-year-old daughter and 16-year-old son, and I’m happily married,” she said. “I’m very happy with my position in life, and it started with them.”
The Durango Adult Education Center, with a successful GED-completion rate of 94 percent, is the highest in the state and significantly higher than the state – 77 percent – and national – 63 percent – averages. Higher levels of education mean a higher income, lower incarceration rates and decreased unemployment, benefits for the students, their families and the community at large.
It takes a team approach to make it happen, said Stephanie Moran, high school equivalency program manager.
“We start with fantastic, really hardworking teachers who are highly knowledgeable both about content and our student population,” she said. “Add a staff dedicated to a positive and supportive working environment for their students and for one another. They never give up on being the best adult education program possible by working together on projects small and large.”
The center’s BOOST program makes sure students get access to support they need, whether it’s a hot meal courtesy of Manna Soup Kitchen, housing support, child care or transportation.
“I can say that we all like one another if not actually love our colleagues. Nice, eh?” Moran said, “and a community that understands why we do the work we do and how it benefits all of us.”
abutler@durangoherald.com
To register
The Durango Adult Education Center will be closed for the winter break starting Monday. English as a Second Language classes and registration for the next semester of high school-equivalency classes will take place the week of Jan. 2, with classes starting Jan. 9. To learn more, call 385-4354 or visit the DAEC in the Commons Building, 701 Camino del Rio, Suite 301.
