Godfrey Doesn't Let Past Stand In The Way Of The Future
English and Communications Instructor Kathy Godfrey advising a student in the Transfer Advising Center.
A-B Tech English and Communications Instructor Kathy Godfrey used to work 40 to 50 hours a week sewing waistbands on over 600 pairs of ladies' pants a day.
"I was the mother of a four-year-old who spent more time in daycare than she spent with me," Godfrey said. "We lived in a trailer park where we could barely pay the bills."
Godfrey could not see a way to give herself and her daughter a better future. Then she found out she was losing her job. The sewing factory was closing.
A-B Tech sent a team of representatives to the factory after the closing announcement to explain to those losing their jobs that money and opportunity were available through the college.
Godfrey started attending classes with the simple aspiration of learning to type until counselors and faculty recognized her potential and encouraged her to pursue her education beyond A-B Tech. "I vividly remember that (Counselor) Arleen Bryan met with me about my placement test scores. She gently encouraged me to dream a bit bigger than learning to type," Godfrey said.
"Two instructors at A-B Tech were critical to convincing me that I could do whatever I wanted to do: Tom Dechant (Dean of Arts and Sciences) and Lisa Johnson (English and Communications Instructor). Tom taught me to improve my physical life in several ways, key to getting control over my own future. Lisa had the audacity to suggest that I was born to write/teach and quietly supported me in my choices," Godfrey said.
After graduation from A-B Tech, Godfrey went to UNC Asheville, where she earned a bachelor's degree. She received a teaching scholarship to attend the University of Tennessee for her Master's Degree in English.
In 1994, she returned as an instructor to the college where she got her start. "Now I have the opportunity to reach out to students every day as a member of the faculty," she said.
Student David Rickman is a firm believer. "It's hard not to be inspired while attending one of Kathy Godfrey's classes. As an instructor, Kathy has an almost contagious enthusiasm for her job and a genuine belief that there is a writer in each of us just waiting to be freed," he said.
"Simply, without A-B Tech, I would have done exactly what my coworkers at the factory did: find another manufacturing job and continue barely making it through life until my mind or body wore out or gave up," Godfrey said. "Not a pretty future for me or my daughter. Instead, because I walked into Student Services all those years ago, I'm still growing and thriving."
Godfrey is sure she has just had the best summer of her life so far. "A summer filled with firsts: my first trip to Europe, first publication of my writing, finished my first book, ran my first 5K, and read my poetry in public for the first time. What a different life, and I expect the future to only be better and more exciting," she said.
Editor's Note: This article on Kathy Godfey begins a new feature in which we profile A-B Tech faculty and staff. Look for more stories in the months ahead.
Early College Starts School Year with 60 Freshmen
Early College Instructor Carol Covington teaches English I to an afternoon class in the Birch Building.
Even high school freshmen know a great opportunity when they see it. Students at the Early College High School on the A-B Tech Asheville Campus have completed the first weeks of classes and the feedback has been very positive.
"I think it's a good thing for kids because you get two years of college and free tuition," said Early College Student Amanda Pace. "I think it is awesome."
"I love our teachers. If you raise your hand, they will come right over and help you," said Student Erica Hyatt.
The Early College High School is part of a high school reform initiative called Learn and Earn launched by Gov. Mike Easley last September. It was developed through a partnership between A-B Tech and the Buncombe County School System. It is part of the New Schools Project established in part with a grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
The curriculum design allows current ninth-graders to earn a high school diploma and an associate's degree in five years. Students take classes in the Birch Building that provide both high school and college credit during the ninth and 10th grades. During the 11th and 12th grades, the students will be mixed in classrooms with A-B Tech students, earning high school and college credit through dual enrollment.
Classes are taught by instructors from both A-B Tech and the Buncombe County School System. Early College freshman take PE, First-Year Seminar and Criminal Justice courses from A-B Tech faculty. After five years, the students will have either an Associate in Science, Associate in Arts or Associate in Applied Science degree.
The Early College has 60 students enrolled this year to keep the student/teacher ratio low. "I don't like big groups," said Pace. "The smaller classes are great."
"Low enrollment helps the kids to be successful," said Early College Principal Meg Turner. Turner was previously an assistant principal at Cane Creek Middle School and at Owen High. She also has experience working with colleges in her prior positions with UNCA and Mars Hill College.
Early College has four full-time instructors and there are four part-time instructors, who also teach at the Middle College, which is in its last year. Currently 40 seniors are enrolled in the Middle College.
"It has been great. Things are going about as expected. Teachers are figuring out where the students are academically. The eighth to ninth grade transition is a big one, and there is some normal middle to high school anxiety. They worry that they can't do the work," Turner said.
The academics of Early College are daunting, but the students wouldn't have been selected if teachers didn't believe in them. The students had to apply to Early College with teacher recommendations. The over 100 applications were reviewed and all acceptable students were placed in a lottery for the 60 coveted slots.
"I started crying when I got my letter. My family was so excited," said Student Melissa Hensley. "It is a good advantage for us."
"It's an option for high school students that is not available in a traditional high school setting," said Turner. "The academic curriculum is rigorous. These are academically-focused students who want their associate's degree."
The key principle for Early College is the three Rs. "Rigor, Relevance and Relationships," said Turner. The rigor refers to the academics, relevance on how to make the content meaningful and connect it to the world, while relationships tie it all together.
"It's pretty cool to be on a college campus," said Student Lina Roplo. "We're going to know everything when we go to college."
"Being on a college campus gives you more freedom. We will get better things out of life," said Student Heather Bass.
As with any high school student, there is one drawback. "I don't like the homework. There is a lot of walking and reading," said Pace. "But the teachers are good and I like what we study."
Chandler Spends Two Weeks In Ghana For Cultural Study
Early College Coordinator Donna Chandler went to Africa for a study program in Ghana through the Center for International Understanding at UNC-Chapel Hill for two weeks in July.
Twenty-five North Carolina teachers, librarians, administrators and counselors left for the west coast of Africa on July 6. They stayed with host families in the capital city Accra.
Since 1995, The Center for International Understanding's Education Initiative has provided international education experiences for North Carolina K-12 teachers, administrators and education policy leaders. Hands-on study experiences abroad help educators examine international best practices and give teachers resources to infuse international content into their classrooms.
"I went to learn more about the history and culture of Ghana, to weave that into curriculum," said Chandler. "We stayed with a host family to learn about day-to-day life."
The group took supplies to the students in Ghana and made plans to have partnerships between their schools and North Carolina's.
"It broadens the educators' horizons, but broadens students' horizons as well," she said. "The little things we can do can have a far-reaching impact. Another thing we learned was that the culture may be different, but it is more similar than different. Students are students, anywhere."
Chandler was awarded a scholarship to attend through the Asheville-based Beattie Foundation. It was open to any educator in K-12 in Asheville and Buncombe County. She was required to submit an essay, application, letter of recommendation and to undergo an interview.