GNTC’s Adult Education program prepares students for success

Georgia Northwestern Technical College’s (GNTC) Adult Education program helps adults receive their High School Equivalency (HSE) and young adults receive their HSE and workforce training.

Mia Edwards, a resident of Fort Oglethorpe, completed her HSE at GNTC’s Walker County Campus in Rock Spring in June 2022. She said she left school in the 11th grade, gave birth to her daughter one year later and obtained a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) certificate. She wanted to provide better for her two younger children. After she saw how well her daughter did in college, she was inspired to return for her HSE.

“The Adult Education staff didn’t give up on me,” Edwards said. “They cheered me on, made me believe in myself even more and motivated and pushed me to keep going with my education after finishing my HSE.”

Since earning her HSE, she has received a Social Work Assistant associate degree, Addictions Specialist certificate and Domestic and Family Violence Specialist certificate at GNTC at the Walker County Campus. She said she is now pursuing her bachelor’s degree in social work and plans to become a life coach.

Edwards works at Four Points Inc., a supervised visitation center that provides services for private cases and cases working with the Department of Family and Children Services. She said she also continues to work as a CNA and will always maintain her license because she has a passion to provide bedside care.

Mia Edwards completed her High School Equivalency at GNTC’s Walker County Campus in Rock Spring in June 2022. She has also earned a Social Work Assistant associate degree, Addictions Specialist certificate and Domestic and Family Violence Specialist certificate at GNTC.

Adult Education

GNTC’s Adult Education program offers instruction and preparation for the HSE, Adult Secondary Education, Adult Basic Education and English as a Second Language in Adult Learning Centers throughout the college’s nine-county service area.

In the 2023 academic year, 1,978 students were served by Adult Education programs, including 414 HSE graduates and 69 students earning Training on the Go credentials.

“For many adults, lack of a High School Equivalency or lack of proficiency in English skills prohibits them from reaching their career and educational goals,” explained Lisa Shaw, vice president of Adult Education at GNTC. “Our Adult Education program provides quality instruction and support for adult learners, helping them obtain the skills needed to gain employment or advance in their chosen career pathway. Our program offers training opportunities, support for students transitioning to college and workshops related to soft skills and digital literacy.”

GNTC’s Adult Education program allows students to set their goals and strives to provide all of the resources necessary to help them on that pathway, Shaw said.

The learning environment gives special attention to adults who are returning to school to resume educational programs; refresh reading, writing and math skills as they re-enter the job market; preparefor HSE tests; qualify for a job or educational program that requires a high school diploma; learn English as a Second Language or work toward a personal educational goal.

Classes operate year-round at GNTC through the spring, summer and fall semesters. Adults of all ages who have not graduated from high school in the United States or Canada or previously earned an HSE and who are at least 18 years old are eligible to enroll in classes at no charge.

Underage youth, ages 16 and 17, must provide a high school withdrawal document and obtain special permission from the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) in order to participate in Adult Education.

“Adult Education benefits the State of Georgia, our communities and our families,” Shaw said. “It helps build a skilled workforce for Georgia, improves communication skills leading to improved community engagement and equips parents as they support their children’s education.”

Employees who improve their basic reading, writing and math skills, or who learn to communicate in English will become more productive in an organization. Employers can also make a request for Adult Education instructors to bring Adult Education Services to their work sites.

Youth Success Academy

The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Youth Success Academy (YSA) enables out-of-school youth to obtain their HSE and technical education by providing testing preparation, job readiness, workshops and leadership activities. The program is sponsored through a partnership with GNTC and Northwest Georgia Regional Commission. Eligible participants may apply for travel and childcare stipends in the five programs that YSA offers.

Youth Success Academy graduate Briana Tucker said she now has more opportunities for jobs and a brighter future since she completed the program. She attended classes at the Walker County Campus and lives in Rock Spring.

“I started my HSE when I was seven months pregnant and was not able to finish,” Tucker said. “After I had my son, I got a letter in the mail that I took as a sign that I need to finish my HSE.”

Tucker completed her HSE in May 2024 and began classes at GNTC in August. Once she completes her prerequisites in the Health Care Management program, she plans to transfer into the Diagnostic Medical Sonography associate degree program. Her goal is to become an ultrasound technician.

“Briana worked hard to finish her HSE,” Kim Arrowood, GNTC WIOA Youth Services instructor, observed. “She’s been a joy to watch go through the program while battling some adversity.”

“Serving younger adults often means they need additional job readiness, job interest or even financial skills because they often haven’t obtained those skills yet,” Arrowood said.

In the last year, the program brought in 119 new students, 79 of those graduated with their HSE, Arrowood said.

The HSE program is open to individuals ages 16-24, covers the cost of HSE testing, provides classroom instruction and support by dedicated professionals, teaches leadership and survival skills and offers college and career counseling.

“Our students under age 18 have to be part of a program to get the HSE testing restrictions waived,” she explained. “We see ourselves as vital in that sense.”

The Individual Training Account (ITA) helps with college expenses for first-time college students ages 18-24. This program pays the cost of tuition not covered by the HOPE Scholarship, purchases books and supplies for the student and teaches leadership skills and job readiness. Students must major in an approved high demand occupation to be eligible.

“Being grant funded allows us to remove some barriers for these students,” Arrowood added. “Many of the young adults that come to us lack the transportation to come to class, so having the small transportation stipend that we offer can help to offset the costs of Walker Transit or the inconvenience of asking a family member to bring them to campus.”

The Work Experience program helps out-of-school youth ages 18-24 gain work experience, learn fundamental work ethics, learn leadership and work readiness, and develop communication and teamwork skills. Participants are paid $9 per hour and work up to 40 hours per week. They may work in the program for up to 450 hours. The program’s goal is to lead to potential employment.

YSA covers the cost of tuition, books and supplies for participants in its Short-Term Training program. The program is open to participants ages 18-24 and teaches leadership and job readiness. If an employer wants to be part of the training program, they must be approved by the YSA.

YSA also offers Short-Term Training courses in Gas Arc Welding (MIG) Skills and Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (TIG) Skills.

For more information on YSA at the Walker County Campus, call 706-764-3783. For the Floyd County Campus, call 706-295-6940.