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State: Adult education program exemplary

MIddletown’s Adult Education service ranked among 40 best in Ohio.

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By Meagan Engle, Staff Writer Updated 12:12 AM Monday, May 25, 2009

Middletown’s Adult Education program has earned an exemplary rating for the fourth consecutive year.

Only 40 of Ohio’s 116 adult education programs attained an exemplary rating, the highest that can be awarded, for 2008.

“To hold the exemplary rating four years in a row is exceptional,” said Denise Pottmeyer, of the Ohio Board of Regents.

Adult Education programs recently came under the direction of the board of regents and took a stronger focus on not just helping people earn their General Educational Development diploma, but also setting goals for their futures.

“The priority is to transition people to college or on a career pathway or some kind of training,” said Principal Rose Marie Stiehl.

“We’re pushing our programs to help people understand the importance of having those goals,” she said.

“A lot of time people come in and they see the GED as the final step and that’s not enough to get a good paying job,” she said. “I applaud them for helping people see there’s something beyond that.”

Stiehl said after congratulating people on earning their GED, her first question is “What are you doing next?”

Facilitating that transition into a career or more education is part of what programs are rated on. Enrollment, student retention and performance levels are factored in.

The exemplary ratings are evidence of the program’s dedication, accountability and ability to exceed performance measures, Stiehl said.

“Customer service is really very important in our office,” she said.

At the Middletown office, which is in the Manchester building, everyone who passes through the door is only a stranger once.

It’s the team approach and dedications of the staff that make the program so successful, she said.

“They really care about what they do and it shows in everything they do,” Stiehl said. “They really are dedicated to what they believe in and that’s helping people be the best that they can be.”

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