HED Secretary Stephanie Rodriguez visited Adult Education

In recognition of National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week, New Mexico Higher Education Secretary Stephanie Rodriguez visited SFCC’s campus on Sept. 23 and spoke with the leadership of the Office of Adult Education, President Becky Rowley and students.

“Adult education equips New Mexicans with the education and life skills they need for social mobility and economic prosperity, and supporting programs that open up more pathways to more education and career opportunities can create transformational change in families, communities, and across our state,” HED Secretary Stephanie Rodriguez said.

Adult education programs are best known for providing instruction and testing leading to a high school equivalency credential (HSE), which students can attain by taking either the GED® or HiSET® tests. Less well-known is that they also strengthen literacy, numeracy, and digital literacy skills, help students learn English as a second language and civics, prepare students to enter college and careers, and help parents and caregivers better support their children’s learning needs. In addition, Integrated Education and Training (IET) programs provide career training alongside other skills instruction in the areas of healthcare, construction, technical trades, and more.

“What got me back at first was, ‘how could I better myself?’,” said Jeremiah Delgado, a student in SFCC’s Integrated Basic Education and Skills Training (I-BEST) program, which enables students to attain their high school equivalency credential while pursuing career training certifications. “I have instructors that are not just respectful but also motivating. I also want to be a great example for my daughter. I want to be able to show her that no matter how challenging life gets, you keep going.” Delgado is completing a certificate in automotive technology and is a recipient of the New Mexico Opportunity Scholarship.

A special thank you to AE Senior Director Letty Narranjo, ESL Program Manager Dafyd Rawlings, ESL Liaison/Instructor Jeff Hornstein, ESL Students -Level 4-5, Literacy Volunteers of Santa Fe, Basic Literacy Coordinator for LVS Susan Rathjen, ESL Literacy Coordinator Amanda Rivera de Garcia, Volunteer Tutor & Student, Academic & Career Education (ACE) Program Manager Kristen Krell, ACE Coordinator Ana Carla Passos-Morgan, ACE Program Specialist/Instructor Ed Ashmead, ACE Students (HSE & I-BEST), all the other AE instructors and staff, as well as everyone who helped organize and assist in this successful visit!

Image: NM Secretary of Higher Education Stephanie Rodriguez seated near the front on the right side leans in to hear from students and instructors in SFCC’s Adult Education programs.