Accessibility Tools

Collaborating for Community: CVOEO Brings Housing Expertise to VAL’s ELL Classroom

Posted on: July 28, 2025

This spring, Vermont Adult Learning (VAL) collaborated with the Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity (CVOEO) to support adult learners with important housing education. Erald Xhaferaj, a Housing Education Specialist from CVOEO, joined VAL instructor Beverly Keim’s Civics class for English Language Learners (ELL) to lead a three-part series on housing and renters’ rights and

The Sound of Success: A Self-Taught Producer’s Path Back to School

by Janine Fleri

Posted on: May 1, 2025

Ben describes himself as “one of the most talented unemployed people in radio or television you’ll ever meet.” With his knack for storytelling, voice work, audio/video production, branding, and marketing, it’s not hard to understand why. Ben has built a name for himself in the world of internet radio and public access TV, reaching more

Kellie: “VAL makes the impossible, possible!”

by Janine Fleri

Posted on: April 17, 2025

Kellie: “VAL makes the impossible, possible.” For Kellie, history has always been more than just a subject, it’s a passion. For years, she volunteered as a history teacher, crafting engaging lesson plans and bringing the past to life for students in grades 3-5. “Teaching was not something I had thought of or considered, but I

Mary: “It feels good to support others and give back to other people.”

by Janine Fleri

Posted on: March 11, 2025

Mary, a lifelong resident of Middlebury, first came to Vermont Adult Learning in 2000 as part of a book discussion group to build her reading and writing skills. “High school was pretty good but I didn’t read well and got pushed around a lot,” Mary shared. But at VAL, things were different. Mary found belonging

Patrick: “We’re all different puzzle pieces; there’s no one way to fit.”

by Janine Fleri

Posted on: December 10, 2024

When Patrick was a teenager, his mother endured a life-changing car accident that required intensive care and support from her family. Not long after, at the age of 16, Patrick dropped out of high school. Flash-forward and he is now an accomplished, world-traveled teacher who proudly refers to himself as a “product of VAL.” “I

Chittenden Center Hosts ADP Info Session, Open House for Students

by Janine Fleri

Posted on: December 6, 2024

Earlier this year, the learning service known as the High School Completion Program changed to an Adult Diploma Program (ADP). There are still a lot of questions to be answered about this change, but our staff have been hard at work helping students understand what we do know. Recently, our Chittenden County Learning Center in

Celebrating Native American Heritage: A Student Visit to the Abenaki Nation of Missisquoi

by Janine Fleri

Posted on: November 1, 2024

Today marks the beginning of Native American Heritage Month, a time to honor the rich history, resilience, and enduring contributions of Native American communities across the country. At Vermont Adult Learning, we are excited to share a glimpse into a recent experience our students had, one that brought them closer to the legacy and contemporary

VAL’s Annual Report is Here!

by Janine Fleri

Posted on: October 30, 2024

We’re pleased to share VAL’s 2024 Annual Report, which you can read here. Notably, we served 1,466 Vermonters across all programs and saw a 39% increase in English Language Learners from the previous fiscal year. This growth reflects our ongoing commitment to meeting the evolving needs of our communities and ensuring educational opportunities are accessible

An Autumn Adventure in Problem-Solving

by Janine Fleri

Posted on: October 11, 2024

What better way to combine fall in Vermont with Teaching Skills That Matter instruction on Problem-Solving? A corn maze! The Corn Maze at Lazy Lilac Farm in Swanton welcomed students taught by Dawn Manchester Austin and Kristy Hancox on October 10th. It was an a-maze-ing afternoon of strategizing, brainstorming, analyzing, and teamwork. The biggest problem

A “Full Circle Moment” at Windsor County Graduation

by Janine Fleri

Posted on: September 18, 2024

It’s an exciting time of year as our Learning Centers are wrapping up another graduation season full of joy, celebration, and pride. For VAL Graduate and Board Member Ashley Griggs, the Windsor County celebration was especially meaningful, as she shares below: “I attended the VAL graduation for Windsor County, not as a board member but

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