Amanda Harrison, chief of the Division of Adult Education for the Pennsylvania Department of Education, asked Swineford about the effects of having one full-time instructor, as it’s a rarity among adult education programs.

“Tremendous,” Swineford said. “I wish we could have all full-time staff.”

Sonya DeArmitt, adult education lead instructor, is in the building throughout the week. With DeArmitt’s position, Swineford said they can add extra fast-track subject classes to help individuals pass their GED exams.

The teaching populations among grantees have 75% to 80% of part-time workers, Harrison said. Due to this trend, many instructors come to teach classes after working their full-time jobs.

As a result, adult education programs have to find a way to meet the mandated requirements set by the federal and state governments, she said.

A few years ago, Harrison said adult education received a $2 million increase in the state line item. While federal funds keep decreasing, a goal of theirs is to allow smaller programs to request a full-time staff position.

“I think it makes a huge difference,” she said.

Swineford said DeArmitt improved the program’s curriculum and better aligned it with the college and career readiness standards.

And the payoff for students has been immediate, DeArmitt said.

“I get to see people change their lives almost every single day,” she said. “It’s an amazing, amazing place. I love it.”

“Thank you for letting us do this,” she said to Harrison and Kuhn.

Current adult education program students joined Wednesday’s roundtable discussion as well, sharing their own personal stories of finding success.

Katyrana Zhadan, 34, said the program has helped her learn more English, as she is originally from Ukraine.

When the Russia-Ukraine war broke out, she fled with her daughter to Poland before eventually moving to America. Her husband helped her enroll in English classes at the Altoona program one year ago.

“She’s put her nose to the grindstone; she’s been here every class,” Swineford said.

Zhadan said she just finished reading the children’s literature book, “Charlotte’s Web.”

“I love it,” she said. “More practice, practice.”

Nada Saleh of Altoona is also currently enrolled in classes.

Originally a physician in Saudi Arabia, Saleh is now brushing up on her English skills in the adult secondary class. Meanwhile, she’s studying for the United States Medical Licensing Exam with hopes of practicing medicine in America.

“So I have an opportunity to come here and start my life here again,” she said.

When asked how she found out about Altoona’s Adult Education Program, Saleh said she asked ChatGPT, and the crowd erupted with laughter.

Altoona resident and current student Zach Brown, 20, recently passed his reading exam with hopes of becoming an electrician.

He told the discussion participants he switched to cyber school when attending Altoona Area High School, but later dropped out of the program due to a lack of motivation.

He found success in the workforce as a retail manager, but later became unhappy. He asked his mother about adult education, and she recommended Altoona Area’s program.

Altoona Area School District Superintendent Brad Hatch asked Brown for feedback as a previous student who didn’t adapt to traditional schooling.

“What can we do differently, in terms of offering, in terms of support to help prioritize finishing or offer an equivalency type program that can get you to where you want to be so that you’re out there doing what you want sooner,” he said.

Brown said being present in a school is important, so he suggested a hybrid model for students who struggle with traditional learning.

“I’d definitely say at least try to go in person maybe one day a week,” he said. “I think that changes a lot in a person’s motivation.”

Hatch said students could attend school in a hybrid model while completing core classes as well. So students could get the required curriculum and hands-on experience.

“I think the more that you’re experiencing what you want to do — and I’ve heard that as a theme — the more that you’re able to experience and see and be a part of what that’s going to look like,” Hatch said.

The program functions because of teamwork at the state and local level, Altoona Area School District board member Mike Pappas said during the discussion.

He said success is defined by what someone contributes to their society, which is why Blair County’s adult education program continues to be a bedrock in the community.

“As long as I’m on the school board, this program will continue,” he said. “Trust me on that. We’ll continue to make this work.”

Mirror Staff Writer Colette Costlow is at 814-946-7414.