Learning Matters Blog and VAL Updates

Sue Smithson: Inspired by the Courage of Our Students (7/14/2021) - Sue is the Office Manager for VAL’s Addison County Learning Center. Sue proctors GED and student assessment tests, conducts student orientation and onboarding, serves on an agency-wide data specialist group, performs data entry, meets with students (new and old), and makes sure the needs of teachers are met---usually in regards to ordering needed materials. VAL’s Addison County office recently moved and Sue assumed many tasks associated with the transition to a new space in the Marble Works in Middlebury. After high school, Sue attended a 2-year technical school in order to become a veterinary technician. Following graduation, she moved to…

Joy Gaine: Encouraging Students to Build Confidence (7/7/2021) - Joy Gaine, an admired teacher here at VAL, began her work six years ago teaching Adult Basic Education (ABE) and working with English Language Learners (ELL). In the past few years, her work has expanded to include high school completion education, as well as advising. Originally from Long Island, New York, Joy spent her college years in the Catskill Mountains at SUNY New Paltz where she received a degree in Sociology and earned a teaching certificate in Elementary Education. Before coming to VAL, she spent time as an “in-house educator” for a nonprofit environmental organization where she focused on teaching…

Ashley Dailey: Helping Students Accomplish Their Goals (6/30/2021) - Ashley Dailey is the Regional Director for Windsor County, overseeing the White River Junction and Springfield offices. She has been working for Vermont Adult Learning since 2018 and moved into her role as Regional Director in 2019. As the Regional Director for Windsor County, Ashley’s position is unique in the sense that she oversees two offices. In a typical workday, she does outreach to different programs/partners and the community, participates in lots of meetings, and completes marketing and development tasks. Ashley also makes time to meet with students and is a part of a lot of different teams and committees.…

Jess Handrik: “It’s always the right time to come to VAL” (6/24/2021) - Jess is an Academic Advisor at Vermont Adult Learning. As part of her job, she works with Winooski, Colchester, and Milton High Schools for the high school completion program. Although she does her job from home primarily, it is very interactive. She meets with students (virtually) to co-create and co-develop with students their personalized learning plans. These plans leverage students’ strengths and ambitions in developing action plans for educational and career growth. At the virtual meetings, Jess checks in with them about their plan and their next steps, identifying any barriers, and celebrating milestones. She also communicates regularly with the…

Peter Cherubini: Opening Doors for Participants (6/23/2021) - Peter is an Employment & Training Specialist at Vermont Adult Learning. As part of his work with VAL, Peter opens doors for participants to go further with their education, job and speciality training. Peter helps participants accomplish this through job shadowing, certificate programs, and other programs such as the Strengthening Working Families Initiative (SWFI); it is a varied role, taking on the positions of mentor, job coach, facilitator and educator. Peter earned a dual Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology and Criminal Justice from Southern Vermont College. He subsequently worked for various government and state agencies. He has been working…

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Learning Matters Blog and VAL Updates