Susan Hinton, Adult High School Leader and Program Supervisor, gave her annual report to the Board of Education and the Director of Schools Thursday night.
Hinton said a total of sixteen students were served during the 2016-17 school year and three graduated. Several more students should be able to complete courses to graduate this summer or early fall.
“This year we served sixteen students. We had credits earned by those students, 37 classes which is a lot. We have had three graduate to date and we have two or three more that are very close. One young man plans to graduate this summer,” she said.
Hinton then read a portion of “Why is Adult Education Important to me?” from a student’s point of view.
“Adult education has helped me so much in my life. It is giving me the chance to actually do well and do something for myself. You get a lot of one on one attention and that is what some people need. I know that if I stayed in high school I would not have had the chance to graduate when I was supposed to, but now I have that chance. Mrs. Susan has helped my life tremendously and gives me encouragement to do better. Adult education is important to people, especially to people with children and students who are currently in school and dropped out with just a few courses to complete. Some people do not have the time to come to school full time so letting students do it at their own pace or time or even on computers at home while maintaining a full time job or other commitments is still an efficient way to get an education. People need to know someone cares and that is what Adult Education does for us. It gives us encouragement to strive to do better. I believe in adult education for all these reasons. It helps us a lot to know that we can still get an education. Thanks for your support for adult education. We need it.”
Hinton then read part of another student’s viewpoint called “How can you make your life better?
“Finally, in your life your only struggle may be getting out of your pajamas or it could be stress because you want a higher position at your job. Whatever it is never feel like you’re alone or you can’t accomplish something because we all feel like that at some point even if deep down we know we can. Never give up on getting your diploma.”
In writing to the students, Hinton said in part, “I know that my parents told me as a young girl, “Get your education!. No one can take that away from you.” It has been a source of income for me for well over forty five years now, but it is more than a source of income. My education career is a gift from God and a mission as well. I have to do the best I can for each and every one of these students. It is not only the least I can do but it is my calling and destiny. We were reminded in in-service one year by a visiting minister who said he believed a teacher should not teach one day if he didn’t feel called by God. I discovered that is not only a calling, but a work that has to be weeded, hoed, and planted. It is a new beginning for me each and every school year. These adult high school students are the seeds of our future in our town. They deserve the best I have to offer and my encouragement and support. One student is worth saving, and so I begin my 46th year of teaching. I think it is a pretty remarkable thing considering the fact that I hated attending school when I was growing up and couldn’t wait to be through. Thanks to teachers who invested time in me and kept reminding me, “You would be a great teacher. I think this is a career you should consider.”
Hinton concluded her remarks by reading a portion of a poem called “Don’t Quit”.
“Success is a failure turned inside out,
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
And you can never tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems so far,
So stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit,
It’s when things seem worst
That you must not quit”
“I want to say thank you for your support and for the wonderful principals at DCHS as well as the Counselors at the high school, the DeKalb County Board of Education members, parents/families of our students, many of whom work full-time or have part-time employment or other responsibilities, and our Director of Schools, Mr. Patrick Cripps,” said Hinton.
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