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Spring 2010 |
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Vol. 34 No. 1 |
Good news to share
by Lori Keefer, Greater Pittsburgh Literacy Council, PAACE President
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Congratulations to our immediate past president, Diane Inverso, who received the 2010 COABE Outstanding Administrator of the Year award. This award was presented to Diane at the COABE/ProLiteracy conference in Chicago. As an organization, we know how much Diane has contributed to the success of PAACE and to providing leadership to the field. This is a well-deserved recognition. |
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I’m pleased to announce that Monica Shields, PAACE’s Operations Director, has agreed to extend her contract with PAACE through June 2011. Monica (or Mona) has done a fabulous job of managing the day-to-day operations of the organization and the annual conference. We are very pleased to be working with her at least through next year. As an all volunteer board, we are appreciative of the continuity and strength that Monica brings to the organization.
There have been a few new additions to the PAACE board. Jennifer Sheppard and Anurag Sagar will be co-representing the Eastern region since Shawn Barnum has moved to the 2nd VP role. Welcome to Jen and Anurag! Jen and Anurag, as well as Ann Janowicz for the Central region, and Marcia Anderson and Lynne Watson from the Western region, welcome your input on how to best represent the membership of the organization. Their contact information can be found on the website under board members.
As you will see in the many articles included in this edition of PAACE News, there are many exciting things happening in our field, on our board, and in our membership. One thing that ties us all together is our membership in our professional organization. As a board, we welcome all members’ active participation in the organization. This issue showcases the hard work of a dedicated board and membership. PAACE is more than just an annual conference.
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Usually this time of the year, we're reflecting on a successful conference and planning for the upcoming year. However, we are in full conference planning mode, eagerly anticipating the annual PAACE conference in State College, June 1-3, 2010. Over 430 people have already registered for the conference, and it is still two months away. Regular registration closes on May 15th, so register now to receive the best pricing. Plan to arrive at the conference in time for the opening luncheon, included in the price of your registration. Updated conference information can be found on the PAACE website conference page. A listing of presentations will be posted by the end of April. I hope to see you at the conference! |
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Advocacy update and your action needed
by JoAnn Weinberger, Center for Literacy, PAACE Legislative Committee Chair
The PAACE Legislative Committee is actively working to engage legislators in responding to both state and federal budget issues. During our monthly conference calls, the first Monday of each month, we discuss the major issues and determine what the follow up should be. Please contact your regional representative(s) to let them know if you have an issue or recommendation for the Committee to consider.
State Budget
Before a state budget can go into effect, both the House and Senate have to agree on the budget, and the Governor has to sign it into law. At this time, the House has passed the spending plan recommended by the Governor in February. This would hold adult and family literacy at $17,510,000 - the same amount as 2009-10, once the 1% budgetary reserve has been deducted. However, the Senate has not acted on this bill; instead, it is expected that the Senate will introduce their own bill after the May 18 primary, and this bill will include major cuts. These cuts will be a reaction to the revenue shortfall for this year of about $700 million dollars (which is expected to grow). At this time, neither the House nor the Senate has introduced a revenue bill that would promote additional sources of revenue.
All PAACE members are encouraged to meet with their state legislators in the next two months to encourage them to take a "balanced approach to our budget challenges" which includes raising revenue. Please also encourage your colleagues, board members, tutors, and partners to raise this issue with their state legislators. Materials for adult and family literacy advocacy are on the PAACE website and highlighted in Shawn's article below. For more information regarding sources of revenue, visit the Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center's website.
In May, watch for a State Budget Alert asking you to participate in a statewide letter writing campaign.
Federal Budget
The U.S. Department of Education Office of Vocational and Adult Education released estimates of expected funds for adult education for 2010-11. The total amount (including EL/Civics) is $18, 834,933 This is a reduction of almost $1 million from 2008-09, but a bump up of about $800,000 over this year. This represents good news!
Planning for federal funding for 2011-12, the National Council of State Directors of Adult Education conducted a national survey of waiting lists. All ABLE-funded programs were asked to complete the survey. PA's response demonstrated a waiting list of at least 10,000 adults - the second highest state's waiting list in the country. Based on national data, Congress is being asked to increase the appropriation for adult education by $1,000 per person on the waiting list - a total of $160 million. PAACE members were asked to e-mail their legislators with that request.
Reauthorization of the Workforce Investment Act (WIA)
PAACE President Lori Keefer is sending a letter to the Pennsylvania Congressional delegation on the organization's position on WIA Reauthorization. At this time, this reauthorization issue is not on the majority priority list for Congress; however, PAACE needs to be prepared should this issue be elevated. The following position was developed by a poll of PAACE members using Survey Monkey:
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"Title II of the Workforce Investment Act is first and foremost an adult education program that focuses on workforce development by enhancing the literacy needs that are integral in supporting the economic infrastructure of the family and community. For major recommendations supported by the PAACE membership are:
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New advocacy tools
by Shawn Barnum, Center for Literacy, PAACE Second Vice-President
We all spring into action when there is a call from JoAnn Weinberger, Legislative Chair, to email, call and/or write letters to our legislators when pressing legislation is nearing a vote, and we encourage our learners to do the same. While these advocacy efforts are often of much benefit to the field and our learners, they are reactive versus proactive, and there is quite probably more to be gained by being proactive. How might we be more proactive? The PAACE Board of Directors took a close look at that question and has developed materials to help us all become increasingly proactive.
On the PAACE website, there are links to several new documents, which should prove to facilitate proactive advocacy efforts and make one more comfortable in doing so. The new documents can be found at the PAACE website; once there, simply follow the Advocacy link, and then follow the PAACE Legislative Documents link. The new documents are titled “PAACE Overview,” which includes the history and mission of PAACE, Board contact information and funding sources information for adult education; “PAACE Fact Sheet,” which provides facts at your fingertips about PAACE and adult education for use in your advocacy efforts; “State and County Adult Education and Literacy Statistics,” which provides data by county; “How to Adopt Your Legislator” and “Tips for Talking with Your Legislator.” I would ask that you review them at your earliest convenience, and then look to adopt a legislator or two. The first three documents can easily be compiled into a folder (recommended color is dark blue), and labels with the PAACE logo, which are available through your regional representatives, can easily be affixed to the folder providing for a professional presentation to the legislator. If a legislator knows you and is familiar with PAACE and your programs, he/she is more likely to look out for your best interests especially if you and your learners are constituents of his/hers.
The thought of meeting with a legislator may be more intimidating to some than others. If you would like to make an appointment with a legislator and feel you may need some support, please feel free to contact your regional representative, JoAnn Weinberger or me, and we will all be more than happy to offer whatever level of support you may require for your visit(s). As legislators are looking to hold us increasingly accountable in the current economic climate, it is vital that we all start to build relationships with them to best facilitate the sharing of the need for the services we provide, our successes and our challenges.
The Pennies for Peace campaign is a program of Central Asia Institute (CAI), founded by Greg Mortenson, author of the #1 New York Times best seller, Three Cups of Tea. CAI is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that promotes and provides community-based education and literacy programs, especially for girls, in remote mountain regions of Central Asia. Founded in 1996, CAI has built, to date, nearly 100 schools in Afghanistan and Pakistan, which serve more than 28,000 students, 14,000 of whom are girls.
Let's join hands with tens of thousands of others around the world who share the vision and dedication to empower communities through education in remote areas of Pakistan and Afghanistan.
In the villages of Pakistan and Afghanistan, a penny can buy a pencil, start an education, and transform a life. In a region where terrorist organizations recruit uneducated, illiterate children, that pencil can empower a child to read, write, and learn.
The pennies that are collected through the Family Literacy Division Service Project at this year's PAACE conference can add up to make a real difference.
1 penny = a pencil
2-3 pennies = an eraser
15 pennies = one notebook
$20 = one child's school supplies for one year
$50 = one treadle sewing machine and supplies
$100 = maternal healthcare supplies for one year
$300 = one advanced student's annual scholarship
$600 = one teacher's annual salary
$5,000 = support for existing school for one year
Children in over 400 mountain villages in remote northern Pakistan and Afghanistan are on the waiting list, hoping to learn in a new school. Let's build a bridge of peace, one penny at a time, offering alternatives to the cycle of war.
Be sure to bring your pennies to the Family Literacy Division table in the marketplace. For more information about the Pennies for Peace campaign please visit their website.
English as a Second Language (ESL)
ESL Division update
by Martin Senger, GECAC, ESL Division Co-Chair
Cathie Whitmire, Multicultural Community Resource Center, ESL Division Co-Chair
Greetings, ESL Division members! As spring arrives, everything changes, and your ESL Division is no exception. We would like to thank Susan Adams of the Philadelphia YMCA for her years of service with us on the PAACE Board, following her recent resignation. We wish her well!
Martin and I have begun preparations for the PAACE conference at the Penn Stater (June 1-3, 2010) and would like your input on the content of the ESL Division Luncheon to be held Thursday. Please e-mail us (Martin Senger and Cathie Whitmire) with your ideas and any burning questions no later than April 30th. We look forward to hearing from you.
Workforce Education
Workforce Education Division update
by Tim Shenk, Lancaster-Lebanon Intermediate Unit 13, Workforce Education Division Chair
As Michael Westover, Director of the Bureau of Adult Basic and Literacy Education (ABLE), Pennsylvania Department of Education, highlighted in the “Moving Adult Education to the Future” webinar on March 5, 2010, ABLE-funded agencies need to do a better job of transitioning students to postsecondary education, job training, or employment. ABLE agencies must work closely with their regions’ Workforce Investment Boards, PA CareerLink® offices, postsecondary institutions, and Labor and Industry partners to develop effective transitional models.
Here are a few of the transitional and collaborative ideas that are being implemented throughout Pennsylvania, submitted by Tom Wojcicki (Somerset County Technology Center and Southern Alleghenies Coalition Co-Chair), Madeline Bialecki (Delaware Literacy Council), and Carol Shefrin (Tuscarora Intermediate Unit #11).
In the Central Region, ABLE programs have consistently offered industry specific classes. One example is Health Occupations Preparation classes offered in collaboration with regional LPN programs. These LPN programs now consider referral to the ABLE programs an established part of their intake process. Also, in the Central Region, the Coalition has, for the first time, worked collaboratively with WIB staff to develop and submit a proposal to enhance adult education transitioning services in the region. The proposal writing process alone has strengthened the coalition and the relationship with the WIB staff. Hopefully, the proposal will be accepted and direct services in the region will be strengthened as well.
The Delaware County Literacy Council (DCLC) in partnership with the Delaware County Workforce Investment Board (WIB) and Harrah’s Chester Casino, is offering workplace literacy programs designed to increase literacy skills for adults in
The Southern Alleghenies WIB provided funding for their ABLE Coalition, via American Recovery and Reinvestment Act dollars, to run a Displaced Workers program. This project focuses on basic skill enhancement and workforce preparation for customers in each PA CareerLink® in the Southern Alleghenies. The classes help displaced workers to obtain a WorkKeys credential and to transition into post secondary training and/or to enter the workforce. The curriculum includes materials developed through the
These are three of the many transitional initiatives ABLE agencies have implemented in their regions.
Tutors of Literacy in the Commonwealth has the same ultimate goal as the rest of the adult literacy field - we want to help adult learners achieve their goals. We are working to do this by promoting participation in professional development and offering professional development in a variety of ways:
With research showing us the importance of teacher (and tutors truly are teachers) participation in ongoing trainings, we are excited and anxious to see the learner gains grow as tutors participate in continuous professional development.
Adult Basic and Secondary Education (ABSE)
Book Review - Our Iceberg is Melting by John Kotter
by Bootsie Barbour, Stairways Behavioral Health, ABSE Division Co-Chair
W
e all like to read and hear stories. Fables have been used to illustrate how problems are solved for hundreds of years. Remember Aesop’s Fables? John Kotter has written a delightful fable, Our Iceberg Is Melting, about how we all can do well in an ever changing world. It is a fun book and one that is easy to read. There are plenty of pictures which add to the fable format.
The fable is set in
Here is an excerpt from the book. This thought might resonate with many in the field of Adult Education. "As far back as the penguins could remember, they had always lived on that iceberg. 'This is our home' they would tell you if you could ever find their world of ice and snow. They would also say, quite logically from their perspective, 'and this will always be our home.'"
The penguins gather a team, a very select but diverse group with such qualities as creativity, pragmatism, wisdom, loyalty, logical thinking and trustworthiness. The characters in this fable, Fred, Alice, Louis, Buddy, the Professor, and NoNo are like people we know - actually like you and me. This strong team guides the colony through the resistance of change and difficult cultural obstacles by developing 8 Principles of Problem Solving. The eight steps are:
- Set the stage: create a sense of urgency.
- Decide what to do.
- Develop a change vision and strategy. Clarify how the future will be different from the past.
- Make it happen. Make sure that as many people as possible understand and accept the vision. Communicate for understanding.
- Empower others to act. Remove as many barriers as possible.
- Create short term wins, visible successes as soon as possible.
- Don't give up. Press hard and fast.
- Make it stick. Create a new culture and hold on to it.
Meet the new Eastern Regional Representatives
Eastern Region Update
Anurag Sagar I am the Program Manager for the English as a Second Language Program at the Center for Literacy in Philadelphia. In addition, I teach two large multilevel ESL classes. Although my background is in the field of molecular biology, I fell in love with adult literacy in 1991 when I volunteered as a tutor to a young, hearing disabled woman. My personal experience as an immigrant to this country piqued my interest in the field of ESL, and I started teaching ESL classes in 2001. The students in these classes have inspired me to share my teaching experiences and the lessons learned therein, at several PAACE conferences. In these classes, funded through an EL/Civics grant, we encourage our students to learn to become full participants in society by learning to advocate for themselves. This civic awareness focus has also led me personally to a greater understanding of the value of advocacy, and I hope that in my new role as Eastern Regional Co-representative and member of the advocacy team I will be able to establish a more active role in helping our legislators understand the importance of adult education, and to help not just my students, but also educators in the region become more involved in advocacy efforts. Jennifer Sheppard Jennifer Sheppard is the coordinator of the Philadelphia Professional Development Center for the Mayor's Commission on Literacy. She began her career in adult education in 2001 as an adjunct instructor teaching developmental and college-level English and communications courses at community colleges in Southern New Jersey. In 2003, she was hired to direct the Cumberland County Literacy Institute at Cumberland County College (NJ), and that is when she discovered her true passion for adult basic and literacy education. Once she transitioned to working in the field in Philadelphia, she taught Move Up classes for District 1199C Training and Upgrading Fund and coordinated a grant-funded workforce development program for Community College of Philadelphia. Her interest in advocacy stems from her desire to advance the field at the local, state, and federal levels by informing legislators of the necessity of well-funded, high-quality adult basic and literacy education programs for the economic and social health of the community, commonwealth, and nation. Jennifer received a B.S. from Drexel University and a M.A. from Villanova University and is personally and professionally dedicated to lifelong learning.
Marlowe Froke, PAACE past president and TV pioneer
by Nancy Woods, Adult Literacy Action Penn State Beaver
Follow PAACE on Twitter
by Sara Ward, Greater Pittsburgh Literacy Council, PAACE Communications Chair
In addition to the LinkedIn group, which is only for current members, PAACE now has a Twitter account that anyone can follow. Twitter is a microblog that allows PAACE to make announcements and share resources. All posts to Twitter are limited to 140 characters. To view the PAACE page on Twitter visit www.twitter.com/PAACE.
Since it started a little over one month ago, there are 37 followers, with PAACE following 28 organizations such as the Department of Education, Outreach and Technical Assistance Network (OTAN), American Association of Community Colleges (AACE), Thinkfinity, and the National Coalition for Literacy (NCL), as well as Byron Pitts, David Rosen, and Jackie Taylor.
With free wireless Internet at the Penn Stater, participants can easily tweet (talk about) the 2010 PAACE conference using the hashtag #PAACE.
Hashtag? Tweet? ...huh? If you are new to Twitter, there are a number of videos and resources to help you learn more about this exciting form of communication and networking:
- YouTube video explaining Twitter in plain English
- YouTube video explaining how to set up your account
- Tutorials from Social Media University
Mentoring: a best practice
by Joy Zamierowski, Stairways Behavioral Health
Professional development in the Northwest region is evolving, and one new area of focus is on peer mentoring. The story of Mentor comes from Homer's Odyssey. Odysseus, king of Ithaca, fights in the Trojan War and entrusts the care of his household to Mentor, who serves as teacher and overseer of Odyssesus' son, Telemachus. Shea, G.F. (1997). Mentoring. Menlo Park, CA: Crisp Publications
Mentoring has also been emphasized in education and business for many years. Mentoring within the adult education field can be done inter- or intra-agency; either option provides practitioners the opportunity for job embedded professional development. Although mentoring is always occurring, the focus of this mentoring project was designed to formalize a process that was informally happening. To make mentoring more deliberate.
Mentoring was initiated in the Northwest region during 2008-2009. Although the project was developed with instructors in mind, it seems to have been equally successful among administrators. Participants begin by participating in an overview of the mentoring process. They reflect on those in their lives who have served as mentors to them and discuss the personal characteristics needed to be a good mentor, even a good mentee. Participants evaluate themselves in different ways, one being either the Pennsylvania Administrator Competencies Self-Assessment or the Pennsylvania Adult Teacher Competencies Self-Assessment. They are instructed to focus on only one or two areas, definitely not the entire document. Once the preliminary information is covered, the mentoring process takes on a life of its own with the professional development center staying in regular communication and offering various resources and support.
Intra-agency mentoring built leadership capacity within an agency. It was easier to schedule meetings and work together because travel was not an issue. Feedback was immediate, and the mentoring was ongoing "fluid and flexible." Inter-agency mentors felt that they had a broader view of ideas in the field, and they benefited from new best practices that they could integrate into their work. These pairs felt that their respective agencies benefited from sharing the new expertise and ideas. The overall satisfaction level among participants was high.
2010 Census
by Cathie Whitmire, Multicultural Community Resource Center, ESL Division Co-Chair
The time has come, once again, for everyone in America to participate in the 2010 Census. This important process is mandated by the Constitution of the United States. It is a confidential count that determines representation in government and how over $400 billion dollars of funding is allocated.
Some people have already received (and hopefully mailed) their census forms. For educators, the most important thing is to help your learners understand what the census is and why they should participate.
Check out the official website for the 2010 Census. There is a pull-down menu on the main page that contains instructions in many different languages. Click on the language of your choice, and you will see a copy of the census form in that language. Also take a look at the students and teachers link for many useful tools, including a preparation unit specifically designed for ESL/EFL teachers and their students.
Facts about how non-profits use Census data is available on the Nonprofits Count website. You can also order posters and promotional materials in several languages.
Be sure to prepare yourselves and your students for this important count. Every person counts and more people means consistent funding. Remind your students that Census forms never ask for your social security number or financial information. Those who do not complete their 2010 Census form will be visited by an official enumerator to obtain information. Enumerators will have an official badge, a canvas bag, a handheld device, and Confidentiality Notice. Another important reminder to students is that the Census Bureau does not contact people via email - only face-to-face or over the phone to address a question on their responses written on the form.
New streamlined FAFSA now available
Now is the time for students to submit their Free Applicaton for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Completing this form is required to recieve any federal financial aid including loans for post-secondary education. The US Department of Education has announced that it has streamlined the web-based application process. The Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) also uses the FAFSA to determine state aid.
The deadline for completing this form varies by type of educational program and whether this is a new application or renewal. Pennsylvania student deadlines are posted on the PHEAA website. If you have earners who are interested in college, World Education has developed a website just for adult learners. The College for Adults website provides helpful information about career planning, applying for college, financial planning, academic skills, and resources. With a computer and these resources, you or your adult learner can successfully naviagate the college admission and financial aid process.
Pennsylvania Career Guide updated
Do you have learners who aren't quite sure what career path they want to take or are you curious about different occupations? The Pennsylvania Department of Labor has updated their popular Pennsylvania Career Guide for 2009-10. This resource has wage and job outlook information for Pennsylvania occupations, personal assessments to help determine career choices, and information about state agencies and resources available to help job seekers. It can be helpful for first-time job seekers or those looking to change a career.
The Pennsylvania Career Guide can be found at online. Additional workforce data and resources can be found at The Center for Workforce Information & Analysis website.
PA Partners 26th Annual Employment, Training and Education Conference
May 19-21, 2010
Hershey Lodge
Hershey, PA
www.papartners.org
2010 PAACE Conference
June 1-3, 2010
Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel
State College, PA
www.paacesite.org
Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Pennsyvlania (AICUP) Member
Meeting on Collaboration
June 10, 2010
Heritage Hills Conference Center
York, PA
www.aicup.org
Govenor's Conference on Higher Education
June 10-11, 2010
Lancaster County Convention Center
Lancaster, PA
www.pahigheredconference.com
2010 American Association for Adult and Continuing Education (AAACE) Conference
October 24-29, 2010
Hilton Clearwater Beach Resort
Clearwater Beach, FL
www.aaace.org
Effective Transitions Conference 2010
November 15-16, 2010
Crowne Plaza Hotel
Providence, RI
www.collegetransition.org
COABE ProLiteracy Joint Conference 2011
April 18-20, 2011
San Francisco Hilton
San Francisco, CA
www.ccaecoabe2011.com
2011 PAACE Conference
March 15-17, 2011
Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel
State College, PA
www.paacesite.org
Comprehensive conference listing
Whatever your interest in adult education may be, the LINCS conference calendar has something for you--actually, LOTS of things for you. Check out this thorough list of conferences and events related to adult education, technology, and affiliated topics at:
www.nifl.gov/cgi-bin/Calendar/calendar_world.cgi
Are you subscribed to the PAACE e-mail list?
Stay informed of legislative calls to action and upcoming events by joining our mailing list. Use the simple sign-up process by going to http://www.paacesite.org, scrolling down to the bottom of the page, and clicking the round button that reads, "Subscribe to the PAACE e-mail list." Your name and e-mail address will not be distributed to other organizations. Subscribers have the ability to opt-out at any time.
President: Lori Keefer (Greater Pittsburgh Literacy Council)
First Vice-President: Cheryl Hiester (Literacy Council of Lancaster-Lebanon)
Second Vice-President: Shawn Barnum (Center for Literacy)
Secretary: Anita Cola (Lackawanna College)
Treasurer: Alex Dow (Greater Pittsburgh Literacy Council)
Immediate Past President: Diane Inverso (Mayor's Commission on Literacy)
Remote Past President: Tana Reiff (TIU 11 Community Education Services)
Western Region Representatives: Marcia Anderson and Lynne Watson (Lifelong Learning Choices)
Central Region Representative: Ann Janowicz (Marywood University)
Eastern Region Representatives: Anurag Sagar (Center for Literacy) and Jennifer Sheppard (Mayor's Commission on Literacy)
Adult Basic and Secondary Education Division Director: Bootsie Barbour (Stairways Behavioral Health)
Continuing Higher Education Division Director: Mary Anne Varacalli (Delaware County Community College, retired)
Corrections Education Division Director: Kathy Pavel (Intermediate Unit 1)
ESL Division Directors : Martin Senger (GECAC), and Cathie Whitmire (Multicultural Community Resource Center)
Family Literacy Division Directors: Lori McMonigal (TIU 11 Community Education Services) and Katherine Vastine (Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit 16)
Tutors of Literacy in the Commonwealth Division Director: Kim Rossman (Tutors of Literacy in the Commonwealth)
Workforce Development Division Director: Tim Shenk (Lancaster-Lebanon IU 13)
PDE Bureau of ABLE Representative: Michael Westover
Postsecondary & Higher Education: Sandra Edmunds
Commonwealth Libraries: Eileen Kocher
Organizational Director: Monica Shields
Committee Chairs/Full Board list: See the PAACE website.
PAACE News Editorial Board
Sara Ward, Greater Pittsburgh Literacy Council, Editor
Diane Inverso, Mayor's Commission on Literacy
Peggi Kelley, Greater Pittsburgh Literacy Council
Chrissie Klinger, Bedford County Literacy Council/Chestnut Ridge School District
Destiny Long, TIU 11 Community Education Services
Tana Reiff, TIU 11 Community Education Services
The purpose of PAACE News is to inform members of PAACE about the activities and plans of the Association and how they can participate in them. Remaining consistent with the mission of the organization, the newsletter connects a diverse audience of adult education practitioners, researchers, and students throughout Pennsylvania. The opinions expressed in this newsletter do not necessarily reflect the position or policy of PAACE and no official endorsement should be inferred.
This issue published April 26, 2010.
To submit material for PAACE News, please email Sara Ward at sward@gplc.org.