Mentors

I've been running an online LiteracyLink classroom for a few years and have seen a lot of adult learners obtain GEDs and workplace skills through dedicated exposure to e-Learning activities on the internet. Of course, studying online is a pretty new concept. As the manager of Virginia's statewide GED Helpline, I have noticed that people who are looking for a steady well-paying job, and need educational credentials, like the GED and the Career Readiness Certificate, also need to increase their technology skills. People need help to overcome the digital divide, because online learning is here to stay. In my role as counselor and mentor to adult learners, I am happy to steer people in the right direction and help folks work through their challenges as they seek to better themselves. However, I also believe that the path to self-sufficiency is best traveled by those with a DIY ethic - Do It Yourself - and never give up. I am based in Richmond at the Virginia Adult Learning Resource Center and my title is Assistant GED Specialist.

I am a Pre-GED teacher at a prison in central Virginia. I also taught GED classes to at-risk high school students for three years. About 92% of my students who have taken the GED Test have passed it.

I studied psychology and sociology as an undergraduate and have a master’s degree in education from the University of Virginia. I have taught adults in a variety of settings. I taught older adults in a wellness program at UVA for eight years, did much staff training and development as a manager with the Marriott Corporation for eight years, taught thousands of people of all ages while a full-time instructor for the American Red Cross for three years, and provided training about Alzheimer’s Disease to professional caregivers at retirement communities and nursing homes.

All of these experiences have helped me be a better GED teacher. I love teaching the variety of subjects that are on the GED Test and I love the fact that the test requires people to think. Learning to think helps, not only on the GED Test, but in life as well.

I've been an instructor for the past 4 years with quality training in
education. I am a resourceful problem solver and an effective communicator with a passion for growth and learning. Keys to my success include; a solid grasp of pedagogical methods, a strong classroom presence, excellent planning and follow through skills, and a genuine interest in helping others. Born and raised in Richmond, Virginia, I attended Henrico County Public Schools. Prior to teaching, I worked in sales and marketing. Currently, I hold a Master's Degree in Business Administration and an undergraduate degree in Business Administration.

I have been an online mentor with eLearn Virginia for several years. My Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration and Business Education is from Virginia Intermont College. Currently, I work with students at the Russell County Alternative Center, in Southwest Virginia, teaching an array of technology classes. Over the years, I've been a part of the success stories of numerous eLearners, and I hope to add you to that list. I really enjoy online learning and look forward to working with you.

I am a graduate of North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Occupational Safety and Health and a Master of Science degree in Vocational Industrial Education and thirty-six hours in Counselor Education. I have worked at Davidson Community College as a Basic Skills Instructor and worked with Danville Public Schools as an adult education teacher and coordinator with the Danville Redevelopment Housing Authority. In addition, I served as the Staff Development Specialist for the Danville Adult Education Center. Currently, I am the Director of the Nova Academy, a nontraditional 21 credit hour graduation program for high school at-risk students.  I have been a member of VAACE for three years serving as the awards chairperson and secretary. I have conducted presentations on adults and stress management in various locations including Virginia, North Carolina and West Virginia.

I am a native of Richmond, Virginia and I graduated Magna Cum Laude from Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) with a degree in psychology in 2008. My role at eLearnVA is to manage the student intake & orientation process. My favorite part of my job is meeting all of the learners, discovering their stories, and learning about their goals.

In addition to working with eLearnVA, I also work with the Virginia GED Helpline. In the past, I have mentored high school students in Richmond, Virginia and, while at VCU, worked as a social psychology research assistant. I believe my background in psychology has helped me to better understand eLearnVA students. I feel like a proud mother every time an eLearnVA learner earns his or her GED credential!

In Reflections on the Human Condition(New York: HarperCollins, 1972, p. 32) Eric Hoffer stated: “In times of drastic change, it is the learners who inherit the future. The learned usually find themselves beautifully equipped to live in a world that no longer exists.” Hoffer’s comment reflects my own beliefs about the importance of being a lifelong learner and summarizes what I think is “the remedy” for coping with our dramatically changing world. I am heartened by the number of people who want to fit education into their busy lives through the use of alternative resources like elearn. It is gratifying work to assist students as they feel the tension of going through a learning curve and to watch them make their way towards a valuable credential, the GED.

In addition to my mentoring work with elearn, I teach high school English in Richmond and am working on an Ed.S. in Reading Education through the University of Virginia. My formal education also includes a Bachelor’s Degree from Kent State University in Education, and a Master’s Degree in English from Virginia Commonwealth University. In my leisure time, I tend to my cats and sometimes foster others until they are placed in permanent homes.