Dear Ms. Schaetzel--
 
Thank you so much for your response to my comments about Adult Ed.  Yes, I concur that all of us need to stay abreast of techniques and approaches to teaching this population, and it is because of this compelling force to "be the best we can be", we constantly look for ways to help our students.  I've often told my students that I am privileged to teach them, as I constantly have to reaccess what I have taught them by what they communicate to me through body language rather than formal assessments.  My English Language transitioners have taught me more than I have taught them.  That is the reward!
 
This is a strange "calling".  Even the DOL labels us a "poorly paid, no benefits". Whereas I seek tools for reaching my students effectively and ensuring that the skill they are learning are trasferable, I am frustrated with my Educational Service Employer who gives us required training opportunities, but then does not supply us with any of the materals to present in class.  
 
For instance, I am an expert in Career Coaching (certified with private clients), yet find the annual convocation we must attend with Workforce Development employees frustrating.  To come away with information on how to teach our students to access testing, career tools, etc on the state websites is not new to me as I was a designer of said systems at the state level, yet others cannot access these sites because our computers are limited and often time "blocked" by the school district.  And then.....WHEN will we teach these important skills?  Most of my students cannot keyboard.  They cannot go to college....or even get a job without these skills.  
 
We seem to pitch the little funding we have in the wrong direction.  I believe sincerely that all we do is keep the people at the top level employed.  I am not concerned for losing my job....I am one of the few in our organization who steps forward to offer constructive solutions.  Recently I had a discussion with our Executive Director in his office (yes, I was called in for reprimand.....not following "normal classroom procedure").  I responded with a reminder of his workshop presentation of "thinking outside of the box", which helped him understand that is what I have done for many years as a business trainer and coach.  
 
All of us must increased our skills and knowledge base and technique to become better instructors.  If we are passionate about this work, it's something we do without prodding.  It's just about curiosity and caring.  I believe that "Don't tell me what you know until you show me that you care".  That should apply to the people who fund and hire us.  
 
Any corporation will tell you that the most important people the organization should value is its employees.  Only then, will those employess be able to care for the consumers. That's why billions of dollars are spent annually in training.  
 
I don't see that happening in this field.  I hope it will change. I hope someday that when we look up "Adult Education Instructors" on the ONET site, we will find reasons, other than passion, that will encourage folks to pursue this career.
 
Thanks!
Sandye Cook, San Antonio, TX
 

> From: kschaetzel at cal.org> To: professionaldevelopment at nifl.gov> Subject: [ProfessionalDevelopment 2090] Re: ProfessionalDevelopment> > Hello, Ms. Cook,> > I am very sorry to hear about your troubles and your story of work in> adult education (no health insurance, no job security). As we all know,> the "norm" of work without benefits and job security is not a good one> for the many highly qualified and dedicated people who work in adult> education. Cristine Smith and Marilyn Gillespie give an excellent status> report on the working environment for practitioners in adult education> in their article> > Smith, C. & Gillespie, M. (2007). Research on professional development> and teacher change: Implications for adult basic education. Review of> Adult Learning and Literacy, 7. Available:> http://www.ncsall.net/fileadmin/resources/ann_rev/smith-gillespie-07.pdf> > > In this working environment, the idea of certification seems like an> additional burden to many, as you so aptly state. However,> professionalizing our field to those who are not part of it is one way> of trying to get better working conditions. Those who fund adult> education programs, both government and private foundations, may be more> likely to increase funding if we can better explain what we do and the> dedication we have for our work. Professionalization efforts, such as> program, content and teacher qualification standards, and certification> and credentialling, are one way of helping those outside adult education> see us for the professionals we are. If they can better understand who> we are and what we do, then possibly more funding will be dedicated to> adult education and programs will be able to offer full-time, stable> employment with benefits. > > The Center for Adult English Language Acquisition's latest brief> discusses the reasons for professionalization efforts such as> standardization and credentialization for teachers of adult English> language learners. This might be of interest to you and others and can> be found at> > http://www.cal.org/caela/esl_resources/briefs/tchrcred.html> > Again, I am sorry for your situation and for many who work in adult> education without job security and benefits. I'm glad that you've been> able to get health insurance and MANY congratulations on surviving> cancer!> > Kirsten> > Kirsten Schaetzel, Ph.D.> Center for Adult English Language Acquisition> Center for Applied Linguistics> 4646 40th St. NW> Washington, DC 20016> Telephone: 202-355-1523> Fax: 202-362-3740 or 202-373-7204> > > -----Original Message-----> From: professionaldevelopment-bounces at nifl.gov> [mailto:professionaldevelopment-bounces at nifl.gov] On Behalf Of Sandra> Cook> Sent: Sunday, April 13, 2008 11:38 AM> To: The Adult Literacy Professional Development Discussion List> Subject: [ProfessionalDevelopment 2079] Re: ProfessionalDevelopment> > > > Hi. This is an old email as I don't get to this mailbox very often. To> address the point of certification in adult ed, in Texas we don't need a> certificate to teach. I'm Texas certified in 3 areas (Music, Special> Ed, ELA), but that is moot. Why would one want to get certfied in Adult> Ed when most regions/adult ed departments never allow teachers to work> the 18.75 hours required to get benefits (health insurance or> retirement)? > > Statistics tell us that the majority of the uninsured folks in the U.S.> are uneducated. I'd like to know if anyone has ever done a study on the> number of higly educated people in the education field are uninsured.> This would include adult ed, substitutes, college adjunct faculty,> temporary teachers (I'm one) in homebound departments, and a multiple of> "consultants". > > I have a masters degree. I would venture to say there are many of us> who are highly qualified and have post graduate degrees who go without> benefits. So what's the point in attaining further certification? I> posed this question to the college department head who developed the> adult certification program and she concurred. Quite frankly, no one> has addressed this. > > I am a breast cancer survivor ('03), had no health insurance, taught 18> hours weekly, and lived from year to year in fear of recurrence.> Fortunately, I'm now a Medicare beneficiary, and take comfort in the> fact that while my employer didn't care, the federal government did.> How many of us are out there? > > Sandra Cook,> San Antonio, TX > > > > ________________________________> > From: tjdclaire at cox.net> To: professionaldevelopment at nifl.gov> Date: Fri, 4 Jan 2008 13:44:19 -0700> Subject: [ProfessionalDevelopment 1828] Re: ProfessionalDevelopment> > > > > > > > I agree. In fact, in Arizona, one only needs a bachelor's degree and a> program that is willing to hire you in order to get certification. The> process goes much faster if one has certification to teach any other> subject or grade level...but that is not a requirement.> > As I recall, as of 12 years ago, in New York there was no specific> certification for adult ed. A certificate in any other field> automatically qualified one to teach adult ed. I haven't heard of any> changes, but then I've been a few thousand miles away most of that 12> years.> > > > ________________________________> > From: professionaldevelopment-bounces at nifl.gov> [mailto:professionaldevelopment-bounces at nifl.gov] On Behalf Of> Tyskiewicz, Andy> Sent: Friday, January 04, 2008 12:23 PM> To: The Adult Literacy Professional Development Discussion List> Subject: [ProfessionalDevelopment 1827] Re: ProfessionalDevelopment> > > > > > I am not aware of a national certificate. In fact, not all states> require a certificate of any kind.> > > > > > -----Original Message-----> From: professionaldevelopment-bounces at nifl.gov> [mailto:professionaldevelopment-bounces at nifl.gov] On Behalf Of Jody> Angelone> Sent: Friday, January 04, 2008 8:07 AM> To: professionaldevelopment at nifl.gov> Subject: [ProfessionalDevelopment 1825] Re: ProfessionalDevelopment> > > > > > > I am sending this request on behalf of this young lady who contacted me> locally, but is not a part of this list serve. If anyone has any> information that would be helpful, please respond to the list and I will> forward the information to her or feel free to contact her at her email> address:> > > > > > > > To Whom It May Concern,> > > Having been a volunteer at the Main Library where I was first introduced> to literacy I am greatly interested in seeing how to get a national> certificate as an Adult Literacy Educator (instructor.) Could you> please direct me to local colleges (Ohio or distance education options)> where I could obtain this from as I would like this for a career.> (By-the-way, I do have a BA.) Thanks so much. Please feel free to> contact me: allison2200 at lycos.com> > > Sincerely,> > > Allison Gilman> > > > > > > > > > > > > > Jody L. Angelone> NW ABLE Resource Center> Owens Community College> (w) 567-661-7355> (c) 419-204-5013> (f) 567-661-7662> jody_angelone3 at owens.edu> > > The documents accompanying this fax or e-mail transmission, including> any attachments, are for the sole use of the intended recipients and MAY> contain confidential health or other information that is legally> privileged. The authorized recipient of this information is prohibited> from disclosing this information to any other party unless required to> do so by law or regulation and is required to destroy the information> after its stated need has been fulfilled. If you are NOT the intended> recipient you are hereby notified that ANY disclosure, copying,> distribution or action taken in reliance on the contents of these> documents is strictly prohibited. If you have received this information> via facsimile in error, please notify the sender immediately and arrange> for the return or destruction of these documents. If information is> received via e-mail and you are not the intended recipient, please> contact the sender by e-mail immediately and delete/destroy both the> original and the repl> > y e-mail message. .> > _________________________________________________________________> More immediate than e-mail? Get instant access with Windows Live> Messenger.> http://www.windowslive.com/messenger/overview.html?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_Ref> resh_instantaccess_042008> ----------------------------------------------------> National Institute for Literacy> Adult Literacy Professional Development mailing list> professionaldevelopment at nifl.gov> > To unsubscribe or change your subscription settings, please go to> http://www.nifl.gov/mailman/listinfo/professionaldevelopment> > Email delivered to kirsten at cal.org > > Professional Development section of the Adult Literacy Education Wiki> http://wiki.literacytent.org/index.php/Adult_Literacy_Professional_Devel> opment> ----------------------------------------------------> National Institute for Literacy> Adult Literacy Professional Development mailing list> professionaldevelopment at nifl.gov> > To unsubscribe or change your subscription settings, please go to http://www.nifl.gov/mailman/listinfo/professionaldevelopment> > Provide feedback by May 30th on the AALPD Quality Professional Development Standards:> http://wiki.literacytent.org/index.php/AALPD_PD_Quality_Standards_Feedback> > Professional Development section of the Adult Literacy Education Wiki > http://wiki.literacytent.org/index.php/Adult_Literacy_Professional_Development

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