early 1,000 of Georgia’s adult literacy professionals gathered recently to focus on the professional development of statewide staff, and to celebrate the accomplishments made during 2004 helping the state’s citizens achieve personal goals in education.

“Passion” was the watchword for the annual conference, which was held at Atlanta’s Westin Peachtree Plaza Hotel, where Hamilton Northcutt, award-winning co-host of Georgia Business Report, served as mistress of ceremonies. Opening the conference, Office of Adult Literacy (OAL) Assistant Commissioner Dr. Jean DeVard-Kemp inspired the audience with her call “to move forward in a positive and aggressive manner” to provide support, guidance and opportunity for Georgia’s citizens.

The chief learning officer of Stephenson High School, Morcease Beasley, picked up the theme of passionate dedication in his address, telling the enthusiastic crowd, “Your passion will determine your level of success. I want you to be very encouraged about what you do.”

Conference attendees had good reason to be encouraged. Last year, they helped more than 18,000 Georgians earn their GED, which for many people is the first step on a path to new careers, and for others is the achievement of a lifetime’s aspiration. The success rate for GED students made Georgia’s the sixth-best adult literacy program in the nation in 2004.

That accomplishment did not go unrecognized. Attending one of his first events as the newly appointed commissioner of the Georgia Department of Technical and Adult Education, Michael Vollmer praised the work of the statewide network of professionals working in the field of adult literacy.

“You are making a tremendous impact on what is happening in the state,” Vollmer told attendees.

State Board Chair Harold Reynolds echoed the sentiment. “All of us in the state appreciate you and the work that you do,” he said.

And State Board Adult Literacy Committee Chair Tyre Rakestraw noted that he personally could testify to the quality of the state’s adult literacy efforts. “I have seen firsthand the outstanding job that you do,” he said.

“I have looked forward to the opportunity to be with you here today,” GED luncheon keynote speaker and retired BellSouth Chairman and CEO B. Franklin Skinner told attendees. “In spite of the challenges, you have continued to persevere and you have succeeded,” said Skinner. “My challenge to you today is to build on your success and set goals to build on your mission and take you to new heights.”

The conference’s convener, WSB-TV reporter Tom Jones, encouraged the educators at the conference to keep up their good work.

“You are all vital to the adult literacy equation in Georgia,” Jones said.