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IN THIS ISSUE
Front Page
Introducing PASSPORT
Student Turns Lemons
into Lemonade — and Tacos
Adapting Environments to
Meet Special Needs
Success Comes in 3s
The Jacqueline Sue Bates Story
Mill Workers Go Back to School
GED Student Nominated for
Poet of the Year
Countdown to the New Millenium
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The Jaqueline Sue Bates Story
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Jacqueline Sue Bates grew up on a farm with a family that did not make education a priority. She recalls from childhood that her father earned approximately $25 per week, while her mother worked as a housewife. The family gardened for food, and her father worked the fields with a mule and a plow.
The sixth of seven children, Jacqueline dropped out of school in the ninth grade to help her mother at home. Her family did not try to talk her out of this decision because they could scarcely afford to pay for her school clothes and activities. By the time Jacqueline was old enough to join the workforce, she found that she could only get jobs as a waitress because of her lack of education. She did what she could to help her parents, particularly during the holidays. She wanted to help provide for them as they had helped provide for her.
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Jaqueline Bates at the
Athens Tech GED
Graduation Ceremony |
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Fourteen years ago, Jacqueline began working in the infant room of a day care center. Since that time, she has worked in all areas of the day care center, including the kitchen. Finally, she worked her way up to the position of pre-kindergarten teacher.
Encouraged by the idea of teaching, she attempted to take the GED. She took the entire battery in one day. She had only spent a minimum amount of time studying for the exam and was understandably disappointed when she found out that she did not pass. At the time, she did not realize that she could retest in just the areas where her scores were low. Although most of her scores were good, she did not undertake the test again for some time.
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Nine years passed before Jacqueline decided to try the GED again. She enrolled in the GED program at Athens Area Technical Institute, and attended classes each afternoon between shifts at the day care center. Two months later, after preparing more thoroughly for the exam, she passed. When she received notification in the mail, she felt very good about herself. Having achieved this goal, she enrolled in the technical institute to work toward an associate degree in child development. She is currently in her second quarter of the program and continues to work at the day care center.
Jacqueline has been instrumental in getting some of her siblings to go back to school. She has found stability in her work since her husband became disabled due to illness. She desires to become a representative for adult literacy in Georgia because she understands the importance of having an education. She especially wants to encourage children to stay in school.
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 Jaqueline at the
EAGLE Awards Competition. |
After she completes a degree at Athens Tech, Jacqueline's goal is to enroll in the University of Georgia to continue her education. She hopes one day to teach in the public schools and serve as an advocate for children. Because family and friends were instrumental in encouraging her to return to school, she wants to have the opportunity to encourage others.
Janie Rodgers
Adult Literacy Director
Athens Area Technical Institute
Athens, Georgia
SDA 19
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