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2010 AWARD WINNERSOutstanding Student Award
From left: Tihilina Kirova and Connie Nelson With grace and heart, Tihilina Kirova has worked hard to overcome many challenges and successfully contribute to her community since she arrived in Boston as a new immigrant. Even when life was extremely difficult, she studied diligently in her Distance Learning class at Jamaica Plain Community Center (JPCC). Never settling for less than 100%, she gained several SPL levels in little over a year. Moving up to El Centro del Cardenal’s advanced class, Tihilina got along with her classmates, all of different backgrounds. She showed genuine interest in their lives, and tried to help them academically in gentle and supportive ways. Always a class leader, Lina organized class events, and was chosen to meet with state house legislators. Lina carried her desire to help others by receiving training and serving as ESOL volunteer back at JPCC as beginner level classroom assistant and literacy tutor.
As an adult learner, Lina has experienced outstanding growth and made important contributions to her community. Outstanding Volunteer Award
From Left: Robert Paysnick and Connie Nelson Robert Paysnick started working at Framingham Adult ESL Plus as a volunteer Prep Class leader in the fall of 2005. He taught wait-listed students in Prep Classes for four years. In 2009, Bob was hired to teach an ESL class in Framingham’s evening program. But beyond the four years of dedication to students in his Prep Classes, Bob has volunteered his skills and talent as a former systems engineer with Data General and EMC to completely overhaul the program’s database. Bob has dedicated hundreds of unpaid hours to the development of a system that will help Framingham Adult ESL Plus use its existing data to run the program more wisely. He has even built in a query to help find students rides to class with nearby students. And Bob is not finished. He currently volunteers his time coordinating the program’s AM computer lab as well—setting up and taking down sixteen laptops, mice, and headphones for classes!
Outstanding Teacher Award
Catherine Waddington has been a teacher of beginner ESOL for over 20 years. She gives her students the necessary tools to become lifelong learners. Her students learn study skills, organizational skills, and self-advocacy. Cathy facilitates real-life experiences that encourage students to participate in community life. They gain confidence while increasing their English language skills. Even after leaving the class, students often come back for advice or support. As the Curriculum Coordinator of YMCA International Learning Center in Woburn, Cathy has led the collaborative effort to develop an authentic curriculum. Her enthusiasm and expertise have been essential to the project. Cathy is adept at recognizing the strengths of individual teachers, soliciting their input, and incorporating their perspectives. As a result, the YMCA Learning Center curriculum has evolved into a model for the field. Cathy has been challenged over the last few years both professionally and personally. She has led curriculum development with creativity, diligence, and patience. During this time she was diagnosed with cancer. She has been through several surgeries and has been receiving chemotherapy every other week for nearly a year. Throughout adversity she tirelessly teaches, works with curriculum, and supports other staff members, in particular a new staff member to whom Cathy is a mentor. She is an inspiration for all of us. Outstanding Counselor Award
From left: Kenny Tamarkin, Maureen Smith, Connie Nelson Maureen Smith is an invaluable member of the ESOL Program at North Shore Community Action Programs (NSCAP). As Counselor she works with ABE students, helping them connect to resources they require. A mother with a child who is diagnosed with ADHD needs to learn how the school system can help him; another mother with children who retreat silently into themselves in the classroom needs help to get them in a school that is best equipped for them; a student needs fuel assistance; a student needs employment; a student needs a mental health counselor that speaks her language; a student needs help with domestic abuse. Maureen helps each one. She speaks to the social service worker or resource person directly. It is not only that she knows how to help her students but she has a passion to do what she can to alleviate their problems and pain. Everyone at NSCAP feels very fortunate to have Maureen on our staff, and the students know that she is a true advocate for them. She is always there for them. Outstanding Support Staff Award
Jacqueline Lynch is the Administrative Assistant at the Adult Community Learning Center of Quinsigamond Community College. She is sensitive, considerate, hard-working, decisive, and very modest. She knows all the details of the program's operations; she is the master mind of the Center’s organization and coordination. Being a wonderful teacher herself, she is a great resource and support to all the teachers in the program. Her students are so motivated by her that they come to school 1.5 hours earlier to work on the computers, to do their assignments online and be ready for class. Jacqueline is also proficient in technology helping all the teachers and students alike. Jacqueline is a person who helps others. In 2005, when Katrina hit Louisiana, Jacqueline left her family and work for 2 weeks to volunteer her time, her enthusiasm and her skills to help people in need there. While working very hard many hours every week, she made the time to finish her Masters in Education. Jacqueline does all this work with a smile and a wonderful attitude. Her staff and students are grateful she is working with them!
Outstanding Administrator Award Rosemary Wilde's name has been synonymous with adult education in the New Bedford area for more than 30 years. She has been a teacher of ABE, ESOL, and GED, as well as an Adult Diploma Consultant. She has also served as a counselor, Evening High School Principal, and Director of the New Bedford Public Schools/ABE/ESOL Instructional Program. Rosemary has dedicated her career to the cause of adult education. Rosemary earned a masters degree in Adult Education from Worcester State College and continued her education to earn a Certificate of Advanced Studies from Harvard University. She worked diligently toward these advanced degrees while continuing her full time employment in adult education and raising three young children. She exemplifies a continued commitment to lifelong learning. Rosemary has served as the Principal of New Bedford High School Evening Extension and is the Chief GED Examiner for the New Bedford GED Test Center. She has served on the ABE Director’s Council for several years. She has also committed many hours to working with organizations throughout the community to advance the cause of adult education in the greater New Bedford community. She continually stresses the importance of lifelong learning to all she meets, but especially those enrolled in the ABE/ESOL Instructional Program, New Bedford Evening Extension Program and GED examinees. She has worked to help learners to understand and stress the importance of being involved in their child’s education and has hosted an annual Open House/Family Literacy Day at the Adult Learning Center where the adult learners bring their children to school so that they can see their parent’s school. These are held on professional development days for K-12 so that children do not miss a school day in order to participate. Through her leadership, the New Bedford Public Schools Division of Adult Education was well prepared to continue with its Adult Diploma Program which was nearly decimated throughout the state with the changes made to graduation requirements. The Program continues to successfully lead candidates toward a high school credential with increased rigor and intensity. Learners are well prepared to take and pass the MCAS requirements and all performance portfolios sent to the MDESE have all been accepted. Rosemary’s selfless dedication to her students and the program were clearly exemplified throughout 2008-2009 as her husband was suffering from what ultimately turned out to be terminal cancer. She was in constant contact with the program and never seemed to miss a beat. It was through her LEADERSHIP that the program continued to run smoothly and successfully. In what was the final week of her husband’s life she was by his bedside at the hospital but would be sure to email important information to the program. Rosemary exemplifies the five qualities every great administrator should possess namely: dedication, flexibility, foresight, concern and respect. First, Rosemary is very dedicated to making her program the very best it could be by spending countless hours in the office and at home planning a well run program to suit the needs of all her students. Secondly, she has the ability to be flexible and make the changes needed to move the New Bedford program forward. Third, she has the foresight to make the curriculum current to prepare students for the challenges of the future. Fourth, she is abounding in genuine concern for her students and her staff. Her door is always open. She provides a listening ear and gives plenty of encouragement and guidance. Last but not least, she has a deep respect for the community and instills in students a sense of belonging and civic pride by involving them in community activities. Outstanding Business/Labor Partner Award
From left: Kenny Tamarkin, Bob Schwarz, Connie Nelson For years, Peter Pan Bus Lines and its owners, the Picknelly Family, have been supporters of Adult Basic Education. Their commitment to Adult Basic Education includes being a driving force behind Hampden County’s LiteracyWorks and, now, the Picknelly Adult and Family Education Center at the Holyoke Intermodal Transportation Center. The building, originally constructed in 1911 as Holyoke’s central fire station, has been renovated to house a bus station with seven bus ports, child care facilities, classrooms and offices of the Juntos Collaborative, SABES West, and many other adult and family education partners. The center is a collaboration of federal, state, and city agencies, Peter Pan, the Pioneer Valley Transit Authority, Springfield-Holyoke-Chicopee Head Start, Holyoke Community College, and the Holyoke Public Schools. This collaboration and the building itself would not exist if not for the commitment from the Picknelly Family. According to Robert Schwarz, executive vice president of Peter Pan Bus Lines, the mixture of day care, adult education, transportation, and other essential services would have pleased Peter L. Picknelly, the founder of Peter Pan Bus Lines. Schwarz said, “That was his vision. He wanted to build something unique, not just a bus facility.” Now, thanks to the Picknelly Family, Holyoke, Massachusetts and the nation have a model of collaboration that meets the educational and transportation needs of many adults. Special Recognition Award
From left: Kenny Tamarkin, Joanne Arnaud, and Connie Nelson Over the last two decades, First Literacy (formerlyknown asthe Boston Adult Literacy Fund) has been a highly respected funder and provider of technical assistance andprofessional developmentto community-based adult education programs in Greater Boston. It has partnered with the Mayor's Office of New Bostonians to offer significant funding for ESOL programs, has supported innovative, distance and blended learning models, and has helpedsmaller, community-basedorganizations toincrease their capacity and the quality of their practice. It has also provided scholarships for adult learners to attend college, some of whom are now leaders in our field. This work has been conducted under the leadership of Joanne Arnaud. In addition to being a dedicated adult educator, she is a brilliant fundraiser, a person who has a proven commitment to adult learners and community-based organizations' participation in leadership, and someone who has the wide respect of adult education practitioners in Greater Boston, across the Commonwealth and in community-based adult literacy across the country. Joanne has recently retired as Director of First Literacy, leaving a legacy of impressive contributions to adult literacy and admiring colleagues and learners in Greater Boston. Special Recognition Award
From left: Laurie Sheridan, Kenny Tamarkin, Connie Nelson As the President of MCAE for the past four years, Connie Nelson has provided thoughtful and wise leadership for Adult Basic Education in Massachusetts. She has prepared and facilitated MCAE Board Meetings, supervised and assisted the Executive Director, provided effective liaison with allies and funders, and guided MCAE through a time when the staff and Board of Directors have grown and MCAE’s voice has become even stronger and more effective. Prior to becoming MCAE President, Connie served as MCAE Vice-President and Board Member, and will soon take on the role of Past President, providing a smooth transition and experienced support to our incoming President. Connie was also a leader of the joint MCAE/MATSOL ABE Working Conditions Committee, which was MCAE’s first organized effort to address ABE Working Conditions. In addition to her work with MCAE, since 1995 Connie has been Director of the Massachusetts Worker Education Roundtable. In that role, she has worked with business and labor to provide basic skills learning opportunities for employed workers throughout Massachusetts.
GED High Scorer for 2009Award
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