Roundtable Discussion With United States Department of Education

Mr. T, Dr. Dann-Messier, Teacher Daphne

Tuesday, January 7th, we were visited by two important people from the United States Department of Education.  They wanted to know more about Adult Schools and Adult Education in California.    They wanted to talk with students and staff and administrators and visit a school day in action.








Dr. Brenda Dann-Messier
Asst. Sec. of Education
for Vocational and Adult Education
for the United States

Dr. Dann-Messier is the Assistant Secretary for Vocational and Adult Education in the Department of Education for the United States.  She talked to the students.

Cheryl Keenan
Director of Adult Education
for the United States

Cheryl Keenan is the Director of Adult Education for the Department of Education for the United States.  She talked to the teachers.






This was a very special opportunity for us to talk with the people who make decisions about Adult Education for the whole United States.

ESL Student and Student Advocate Marina was one of the students at the roundtable discussion with Dr. Denn-Messier.  

You can read the questions for the roundtable here.

Here is Marina's description of this very special event:

A Roundtable Discussion

It was a first day of the spring semester in San Mateo Adult School, and it was very hectic day.  In the beginning of each semester there is usually some chaos because of new students coming and “old” students moving to other classes.  Starting a new school semester is always like switching on a big mechanism after some break.  But Tuesday January 7, 2014 was even more complicated day than our ordinary first day of the semester.  In spite of its regular “beginnings” routine, our adult school had been having very special guests in the afternoon.  One of these visitors, Dr. Brenda Dann-Messier, is Assistant Secretary of Ed for the USA.  She wanted to meet students and ask them some questions to get students` opinions and their educational needs.

 

It was the first time when I met such a high-ranking person in the USA.  After coming in the auditorium where the students were waiting for her, Dr. Dann-Messier didn’t take a seat, but had been going around tables and shaking hands with each student.  It was unusual (I can’t imagine any Russian officials doing the same!).  It was respectful.  Then Dr. Dann-Messier sat down and asked students to introduce themselves.  She was listening to everybody very attentively and asked some additional questions about students experience and goals. After that she introduced herself and explained us what she is working on and why she is here. The most important idea that I got is the president Obama cares about good education for adults, and the government really wants to know students` opinions about “the perfect educational system”.

20 students of San Mateo Adult School participated this roundtable discussion. There were some ESL students, a few current GED students, a few former adult school students (who got some jobs, or have become the college students, or even got the master degree due to their studying in SMAS), and a few students, who are studying in CSM and in our school at the same time.  Everyone has told how they are grateful to our school, not only for well-qualified teaching, but also for the special atmosphere here and thoughtful teachers` attention to their problems and difficulties. Also there was an amazing elderly American lady, who has grandchildren and recently graduated from GED programm.  Her example has impressed everyone, and it truly demonstrates that it is “never late” to study.

We shared our opinion, and we all agreed what are the some adult students` needs:

v The childcare program (many parents with small children aren’t able to come to school, but how can they be a part of community and help their children with school work without language and cultural knowledge?!).

v More counselors in school (special person who will give students some civil knowledge, explain to them cultural differences, clarified for them some features of the life in the USA).

v More connections between adult school and community (students would like to be volunteers there, but they need someone who could organize them).

    We weren’t able to discuss many specific topics then, but I think we told about the most important things.  And we showed Dr. Brenda Dann-Messier that we are different with different needs, but we all want to learn and be a part of community now, and then get a job and be helpful to this country.  And I hope our voices will be heard, and our opinions will be considered.