A-B Tech Awards Third-Highest Number of GEDs in State
TechTalk, October 2007
Eric Greene, second from left, is congratulated for completing his GED by A-B Tech instructors and staff. From left are Kim Litz, Jean Leichte, Barbara Brownsmith, Rachel Sternberg, Chris Franklin and Brenda Robinson.
A-B Tech's number of GED graduates ranks third in North Carolina with 548 certificates awarded between July 2006 and June 2007. Overall, the Basic Skills program is 16th in size.
"Our commitment is to get people in and out of the program as quick as possible so they can avail themselves to other educational and work opportunities," said Barbara Brownsmith, Adult Basic Education/GED Preparation/Adult High School coordinator.
"Everybody who comes into our program has some degree of test anxiety. The ABE/GED program involves a lot of testing and students get used to it. Then the level of stress goes back up when it's time to take the GED test," she said. "The reason they were able to relax and do better on the test was the welcoming attitude of Lani Anderson (chief GED examiner)."
Anderson works closely with the GED staff and instructors to make sure individuals receive needed accommodations. "They are the best, most student-focused staff anybody could have," Brownsmith said.
Eric Greene, who recently completed his GED, said he knew he could finish what he started more than 20 years ago because of the faculty. "I thank each and every teacher in this program for giving me the tools I needed," he said. "It's a blessing to have these teachers. I did not have this support in high school."
Greene came to A-B Tech in 1985 to get his GED, but got a full-time job and quit coming to classes. He made another attempt in November 2003, but really started in earnest in January 2005, regularly attending until he finished.
"I read a news article about a 75-year-old man getting his GED. I cut out that article and kept it. This man is inspiration," Greene said.
Greene's instructors suspected he had a learning disability so the College Foundation paid to have him tested. The results indicated he did have learning disabilities and he was able to receive testing accommodations.
"That happened because the Foundation Board saw him as a candidate for testing. All of that was able to happen thanks to the A-B Tech Foundation, Annie Clingenpeel and the instructional staff," Brownsmith said.
"Eric is an interpersonal genius," Brownsmith said. "He brings his warmth wherever he goes. It allows him to connect to people and people to connect to him."
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