The Michigan Works Adult Education program in Berrien County is celebrating a record-breaking year, recognizing 52 graduates who have earned their GEDs — the highest number of graduates in the program’s history.
Michigan Works Adult Education Manager Mandi Somers tells us Michigan Works has been offering a local adult education program for many years.
“We are a year-round program that helps any students that haven’t earned a high school credential to finish that up and earn a GED, which is recognized as an equivalent to a high school diploma,” Somers said. “We take students ages 16 and up. We’ve had students as young as 16 and as old as 70 finish their GEDs with us. We’re a completely free program. Like I said, we do go year-round, so people can come in and join us at any time that they’re interested, and we can do both in-person classes and one on one tutoring, as well as if a student can’t come in and make it into the building, we can also do online training.”
Michigan Works recognized the latest class on Tuesday, with Somers noting that when someone who has not finished high school earns their GED, new opportunities open up.
“It can definitely boost and improve their pay as well as open up any opportunities for trainings, apprenticeships, going on to college.”
Somers says this new record follows the launch of a partnership with the Berrien County Jail, enabling Michigan Works to help inmates earn their GEDs.
“We are able to go into the jail two times a week and have those students that are incarcerated there work on their GED. And through that program, we’ve had 43 participants participate in it, with nine earning their GED and over 70 GED official tests administered there. We’re super proud of that partnership.”
Berrien County Jail Administrator Celena Herbert says inmates always look forward to the day of their release, but many don’t know what they’re going to do after that. Earning a GED can help them open new options.
Somers says when someone enters the program, Michigan Works specialists will get to work preparing them for the four tests they’ll need to pass in order to receive that GED. it all starts with some assessments of the student to determine their educational needs.
“Once we establish that, then we’re able to create an individualized lesson plan for them that’s tailored just to their needs. So they only work on things that they need to work on to be able to pass those GED tests. And we’ll work with them every step of the way with tutoring, with giving them book work or online work.”
Somers says the agency can help just about anyone earn their GED. We asked for more about that 70-year-old graduate she mentioned.
“He came in to us and he said, ‘You know, I dropped out of school when I was younger. And when I got older, I decided I’d really, really like to have a high school diploma or something similar.” So he came back to us, and it took him not too long because he was very smart and very bright. And he finished in just over a month last year with us, and he was able to earn his GED. He actually decided to go on to college to pursue some of those credentials.”
In addition to serving students at the Berrien County Jail, Adult Education staff offer services at the Benton Harbor Michigan Works Service Center, Paw Paw Michigan Works Service Center, and the Galien Public Library. You can learn more about the Michigan Works Adult Education program right here.
Photo, left to right: Mandi Somers, Adult Education Manager at Michigan Works! Berrien, Cass, Van Buren; Captain Celena Herbert, Jail Administrator at the Berrien County Jail; Jennifer Deamud, Executive Vice President of Workforce at Michigan Works! Berrien, Cass, Van Buren.
