June 15, 2019
By: Dwayne Page
Susan Hinton, Adult High School Program Supervisor/Instructor, presented in written form her annual report to the Board of Education and the Director of Schools Thursday night. She was unable to attend the meeting.
In the report, Hinton said eleven students are currently enrolled in the program and there were four graduates during the 2018-19 school year . Sixteen classes have been completed by the students who are attending on a regular basis. These subjects count toward completion of a diploma.
“We have had a very good year with a total of three students graduating with a high school diploma and one student graduating who came for tutoring and entered the GED/Hi Set program upon leaving. These students may seem small in number, but with the ever increasing amount of classes it takes to complete a high school diploma, taking one-two classes at a time is very difficult,” said Hinton.
“One of these students is pursuing a career as an RN and is making A’s and B’s and so excited to come back and share her accomplishment in the academic world. I know this student will make a great nurse,” Hinton continued.
“One student who is graduating plans on coming back to be in our school system as a substitute teacher while she pursues an early childhood degree”.
“Another student plans on getting an education degree and wants to work in the Head Start Program in our county,” said Hinton.
“It is a pleasure to make some small contribution back to our county public school system. I want to thank each and every one of you for this opportunity”.
Hinton said she also asks the participants each year to write an essay about the program at the end of each school year to let them tell others about this opportunity to better themselves in a world that is changing so rapidly and needs an educated work force to handle the demands of society.
In one of the essays, a student, who is a wife and mother of two wrote that “the program has been a life saver for me as I dropped out of school to have a family several years ago. I realized too late that it might not have been the best decision I could have made so I decided to come back and get my diploma now-better late than never”.
“For many students, it may seem like nothing but a piece of paper, but to me getting my diploma means everything”.
“Going through life without a diploma has been very difficult. I have experienced low self esteem, depression, and a lack of confidence all because of the fact that I lacked an education and had no diploma. I am honored and blessed to be able to have this opportunity to finish my secondary education”.
“I plan on working for the local school system when I finish as a substitute or aide, and I may even go to college. I am forever grateful to the DeKalb County School System for providing me this opportunity”.