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The following state awards of recognition from the California Council for Adult Education for outstanding accomplishments in service of adult schools, adult employees, and adult school students during the 2009–2010 school year will be presented at the 2012 CCAE State Conference in Fresno, California on May 4, 2012.
In each of the roles he has filled in almost 30 years as a professional educator, Chris Nelson has demonstrated extraordinary commitment to students, colleagues and the profession, innovating, leading, and collaborating for his schools, CCAE’s Bay Section and for CCAE as a state wide organization. Chris has been a member of CCAE for 22 years and has been actively involved at Chapter, Section and State levels for many years. Most recently, he headed the conference planning for the 2011 CCAE/COABE joint conference in San Francisco, work which was made more difficult by the decline in state of funding in California for adult education, the poor economy in general, and a strike threat which affected hotel negotiations in San Francisco.
Cleve Pell—Montebello Community Adult School
 This award honors the memory of Dr. Robert Rupert whose 23 year career in adult education culminated in his service as the Assistant Superintendent of Adult and Occupational Education in the Los Angeles City Unified School District. He began his career teaching junior high school science then, quickly moved into adult education. As an administrator, he was well known for his belief that adult administrators hold positions that demand a twenty-four hour-a-day commitment. The list of his service in the AEALA and CCAE is too long to include here, as is the list of his awards and honors. In words too brief, he put into place many important changes and led adult education with unmatched dedication and wisdom.
As Director of Montebello Community Adult School, Mr. Pell’s vision and strong leadership skills have been instrumental in developing innovative academic and career technical programs. These educational opportunities greatly enrich the lives of those who are served, and aid in making the Montebello Adult program an outstanding success. As Superintendent of the Montebello Unified School District, he continues to be a compelling, passionate advocate for adult learners. In both roles, as Director and Superintendent, he empowers and encourages the staff to take ownership of their program and to make it the best program possible.
Chapman Convalescent Hospital is a facility that every educational
institution dreams of collaborating with in hopes of providing its
students with the optimal education experience. It is because of their
assistance that we, Riverside Adult School, have the opportunity to
provide the community with the highest functioning CNA graduates
possible. This wonderful experience all starts with the facility’s
welcoming culture. Each member of Chapman Convalescent Hospital,
from the Administrator to the Housekeeper, greet and welcome the
students. In fact a common statement that we often hear is, “We are so
glad you’re back. Thank you for coming.” These and other positive
and encouraging interactions with our students impact their overall
learning experience.
This award honors the memory of Donald A. McCune who was Director of the Adult, Alternative, and Continuing Education Division of the State Department of Education, when he was killed while piloting his own plane in 1986. As an administrator, educator, and advocate for adult programs, he received numerous honors and awards. He served as the CCAE Board Liaison from the SDE and was selected by President Reagan to serve on the Training Committee of the White House Conference on Productivity. He was also a member of the Board of the American Association of Adult and Continuing Education. He held a doctoral degree from Stanford University and authored a number of national publications in the field of adult literacy.
• Not awarded this year
Not all important contributions to adult education are made by education professionals! Business people and community members provide contributions that deserve recognition, as this award is designed to do.
• Not awarded this year
This award is presented to retiring or retired CCAE members, who have had outstanding service to CCAE at the chapter, section, or state levels.
Sandra Cropper—Fresno Adult School
 Sandy Cropper began her career at Fresno
Adult School in 1983. A large influx of
Southeast Asian refugees had arrived in
Fresno and teachers were desperately
needed. Sandy knew she wanted to teach
adults, so she went in for an interview at
the school and started teaching the next
day!
Over her long career at Fresno Adult,
Sandy taught almost every level of ESL.
She was extremely dedicated to helping
her students learn English. She was at
school every morning before most people
get out of bed. She would be in her classroom working before 6:30 am
every day. Her students knew that she was there early, and many of
them showed up at 7:00 am or earlier to start the day with their teacher.
Sydney Farr—Fresno Adult School
Sydney Farr began her career in Adult Education in 1989, as a GED instructor at the Center for Independent Education, as part of Career Vocational Education. She moved to Fresno Adult School in 1992 when she was given the opportunity to teach in the newly developed Vocational Program. Sydney was offered the chance to co-create the two-week Pre-Employment Preparation Workshop (PEP), which became her 14 year teaching assignment. PEP was a prerequisite for all vocational training programs in what developed into the Career and Technical Education Department. Medical, Computer and Service Pathway students learned to make their way around the school and programs during these two weeks. During that time students developed important relationships with fellow students, the student services office and school staff.
Carmen Gloria Garcia—(Retired) El Monte-Rosemead Adult School
Carmen has been involved with adult education for over 25 years and has been a member of CCAE for about the same amount of time. She has been very active in and supportive of CCAE at both the chapter and section level. She has presented workshops at conferences and other adult schools, and Carmen has consulted with other schools for Distance learning.
Prior to her retirement, Carmen was a full time instructor at El Monte-Rosemead Adult School. In the evenings and on Saturday she also worked as a Department Chair for Bassett Adult School and as a consultant for Hacienda La Puente Adult School. She is truly an exceptional teacher.
Jerry Green—Castro Valley Adult and Career Education
Jerry Green is an administrator known statewide as a leader among his peers in the field of adult education. His 38-years in public education includes 25 years in K-12 as a teacher, counselor and site administrator. For the past 13 years, he has immersed himself in the world of adult education. He is known as a strong advocate for California Adult Schools and their symbiotic relationship with local school districts in providing literacy instruction, workforce preparation and community development that directly and indirectly supports success in K-12 schools. During Jerry’s tenure, CVACE has collaborated with over twenty community agencies to provide instructional and support services including externship for medical students family assistance, memory academies for adult and job placement for developmentally disabled students. Additionally, the adult school now has 9 courses that articulate with the community college for student credit. Jerry believes that an adult school can and should be integral to the success of K-12 schools and students. With this in mind he has provided summer enrichment programs for K12 students, credit recovery classes for high school students, the use of the adult school computer labs for K-12 inservices, and a selection of free classes for district staff.
Robert Murio—Napa Valley Adult School
Bob began teaching high school subjects/social sciences at Napa Valley Adult Education in 1997. He became an integral part of the Napa County One Stop partnership co-located on a middle school campus until 2002. Bob advised One Stop clients/students about academic and career training choices during those years while continuing to teach high school subjects. In 2004, Bob became the supervisor for ASE/ABE/GED programs. He supervised the evening program on our new campus and provided advising to in-coming students and on-going support to teachers and students to ensure that students achieved their educational goals. Bob is currently semi-retired yet still works part-time advising and overseeing some of our ASE and credit recovery programs.
Dr. Lanny Nelms—Harbour Community Adult School
Dr. Nelms has been a member of CCAE for 38 years and has held every office at the local and state level that CCAE has to offer. He worked for LAUSD for 48 years and for the ten years before he retired, he was Principal of Harbor Community Adult School in San Pedro. He had three walls in his office covered with plaques in recognition of his many, many, many contributions to education and the community, and a refrigerator full of Diet Pepsi for anyone who stopped by. He is the kind of guy who worked 12-hour days and always found time to write thank-you notes.
Susan Stanley—Mt. Diablo Adult School
Susan Stanley started out with a B.S. in History, earned an elementary teaching credential as a reading specialist and began teaching elementary school. After a short time, “Susie,” began her real career as an adult educator that has lasted for more than thirty five years. She has taught with Mt. Diablo Adult Ed, Hayward Adult Ed and West Contra Costa Adult Ed. In 1999, Susie became a full time Coordinator with Mt. Diablo Adult Education.
Throughout her career, Susie has been dedicated to providing Lifelong Education based on solid standards and teaching practices. To that end, she was a key member of the East Bay Older Adult network. She also served on the Board of the Contra Costa Adult Day Health Network and is currently on the Board of Friends House where she provides an adult educator’s viewpoint. She was awarded Teacher of Excellence for Mt. Diablo Adult Education.
Bay Section
Gretchen Lammers—Martinez Adult Education
Gretchen Lammers began teaching English
as a Second Language at Martinez Adult
Education (MAE) in 1990. In her 21 years
at MAE, she has served as an ESL
instructor, ESL Department Coordinator
and Assistant Director.
Although it can be difficult for some ESL
students to attend on a regular basis, no
one wanted to miss Mrs. Lammer’s class—
not even for a single day. Students learned
so much and so fast , that many returned
home with fantastic stories about this
incredible teacher, and they were telling
these stories in English!
Peg Fitzgerald—Campbell Adult and Community Education
Peg Fitzgerald has always had a passion for
helping adults learn. With a degree in
Anthropology and years of experience as a
social worker and educator she, “helps
students do what they need to do to get
where they want to be.”
She first came to Adult Education in the late
1980’s when she joined the staff of the
Metropolitan Adult Education Program
(MAEP) on a part-time basis. Very quickly
her talent as an educator was recognized
and she was given an increasingly diverse
portfolio of responsibilities. Soon the
MAEP administration hired her on full-time
giving her the title of High School/GED Curriculum Specialist, in
addition to her teaching and other duties. One of the highlights of Peg’s
experience with MAEP and learning technology was when she worked
with other program coordinators to customize and implement the
PLATO Learning System at MAEP’s campuses.
Central
Section
Debbie Jury, RN—Clovis Adult Education
Debbie Jury received her Associate Nursing
Degree from New Mexico State University
and her Bachelor of Science in Nursing
from CSU, Dominguez Hills. She has
worked as a hospital Staff Nurse, Charge
Nurse and Trainer in all areas of the
medical field. She is also an accomplished
lecturer and writer, having had numerous
articles published in prestigious healthcare
journals. Before coming to teach at Clovis
Adult Education, Debbie was employed by
the local Community Hospital and was a
healthcare business owner.
Lori McClintick—Visalia Adult School
Lori McClintick is a graduate of CSU
Hayward. She worked in private industry
prior to her work in Adult Education. She
worked at Fremont Adult School prior to
coming to Visalia Adult School where she
has worked for the past nineteen years. She
is currently in the process of completing her
Masters degree in Administration at Fresno
Pacific University.
LA Metro Section
Eleanor Comegys—Los Angeles Community Adult School Westside CAS
Eleanor Comegys has been involved
with teaching Adults English as a
second language since she tutored her
first student privately in 1988.
She has spectacular teaching abilities.
She creates a class which not only
follows the DACE course outline and
CASAS mandates, but also has a
variety of activities which help
students improve their speaking,
grammar, writing, reading and life
skills. Her special ability is to daily
drill her students on what they have
already learned, making it a fun and
challenging activity. She creates a
comprehensive lesson plan book with
each day of the semester planned in advance, weaving textbook
activities, course outline and CASAS mandates expertly and
seamlessly. Her students are aware of this professional plan, and are
highly motivated to return to class each day.
William Hrycyna—Franklin Community Adult School
Bill Hrycyna is a man committed to education
for all people. He is organized, has excellent
teaching abilities, and superior oral and
written communication skills. As an ESL
instructor, he masterfully creates a
supportive, nurturing learning environment.
As a person who has learned multiple
languages, he identifies with students and is
able to use his own experiences learning a
foreign language as an adult in another
country. He understands the anxiety, fear and
self-esteem issues that arise and works
diligently for successful outcomes for students. Bill works hard for his
students, connects with them and is well respected by all that encounter
him — in short his students adore him! His retention rate is second to
none. Bill’s classes are always bursting at the seams and filled with
students who are actively engaged, laughing and learning. He produces
a lot of his own innovative material to suit students’ particular needs.
• Victor Huey—Evans Community Adult School
• Amy Schnieder—Pacoima Skills Center
Northern Section
• Lynn Crumpacker—Stockton School for Adults
South Coast Section
• Katherine Davis—Ford Park Community Adult School
• Mauro Del Rosario—El Monte-Rosemead Adult School
• Len Ruiz—Baldwin Park Adult School
• Susan West—Norwalk-La Mirada Adult School
Southern Section
• Patricia Anderson—Grossmont Adult School
• Laura Mitchell—San Bernardino Adult School
Bay Section
• Hermelinda Meraz—Liberty Adult Education
Central Section
• Hector Guzman—Clovis Adult Education
LA Metro Section
• Sonia Navia—North Valley Occupational Center
South Coast Section
• Susan Munoz—Montebello Community Adult School
Southern Section
• Ingrid Cardenas—San Bernardino Adult School |
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• 2012 CCAE State Conference
Chuckwagon Lunch and Awards Program
May 4, 2012 (PDF)
• 2012 CCAE State Conference
Wagon Master's Awards Breakfast Program
May 5, 2012 (PDF)
 The California Council for Adult Education recognizes excellence in adult education, and all members are welcome to nominate a candidate for consideration.
Nominations must follow the criteria and eligibility rules as detailed on the nomination forms.
Contact Darlene Neilsen, CCAE State Awards Chair by email at darlene.neilsen@lausd.net or by telephone at (213) 241-3156. Visit the nomination page and download the nomination forms for complete details.
• CCAE Awards Flyer (PDF)
George C. Mann Distinguished Service Award
Donald A. McCune Collaborative Award
Robert W. Rupert Award
Award of Merit
Citation of Merit
Partners in Adult Education Excellence Award
Excellence in Teaching Award
Excellence in Support Services Award
Life Membership Award
Past State Award Winners
Past Executive Directors
Past State Presidents
• Please join or renew your membership today!
• CCAE is unique in that membership is available to Teachers, Administrators, Classified Staff Members, Counselors, Students, and Friends of Adult Education.
• For more information please click on the button below to find out how you can become a member of CCAE or renew your membership.
Address:
PO Box 978
Los Alamitos, CA 90720-0978
Phone: 888-542-2231
Fax: 866-941-5129
Email: membership@ccaestate.org
Website: ccaestate.org
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George C. Mann served as the Chief of the Bureau of Adult Education and Executive Secretary for CCAE in the 1940’s and 1950’s. During his twenty-two year career as an adult education leader, the concept of public school adult education in California went from dream to reality. His affectionate nickname, “Mr. Adult Education,” was inspired by his devotion and tireless work on behalf of public school adult education. It is fitting that our highest honor bears his name.
This award is designed to honor adult educators who have performed outstanding statewide service to CCAE.
