Lieutenant Governor Denn Recognizes Exceptional Adult Education Work With Awards

For Immediate Release: Friday, March 12, 2010

Dover– Lieutenant Governor Matt Denn acknowledged the contributions of programs, businesses and people who have advanced adult education in Delaware at the annual Interagency Council on Adult Literacy ceremony Friday.
 
“Adult education is an important part of our state’s education system, providing not only education for those adults who may not have completed it in their youth, but also new knowledge, skills and opportunities for workers who need them, especially in this economy,” said Lt. Gov. Denn, whose office coordinates adult education efforts statewide. “It is my privilege to recognize some of the impressive work being done.”
 
Awards presented Friday included:

• Outstanding Organization: Sussex Tech Adult Division. The Sussex Tech Adult Division offers classes in a number of areas, including ESL and Family Literacy, serving over 2800 adults. It  has partnerships with a large number of government, non-profit and for profit organizations, local businesses and the school districts and offers programs throughout Sussex County.


• Outstanding Business: Roizman and Companies. Roizman and Companies is a real estate development and property management company, mainly of low and moderate income households, including Bethel Villa in Wilmington. Roizman and Companies offer free educational and enrichment opportunities through a “Neighborhood Network Center,” including adult basic literacy classes, family literacy classes, GED and career development classes, and monthly workshops on continuing education.


• Outstanding Program: Woodbridge School District.  The Woodbridge School District has provided ESL, ABE, GED, and EvenStart Family Literacy to adults and children since 2001.  Woodbridge provides classroom space and financial support for the programs.  In the 2008-2009 school years, 217 adults and 165 children participated in education and literacy programs.


• Thomas M. Baker Service to Literacy Award: Syd Goldberg. Goldberg, the executive director of Delaware Coalition for Literacy, has more than 30 years of service in education.  He has provided strong advocacy for adult education in Delaware to local and national congressmen and women throughout his career.  He speaks regularly on behalf of adult learners and meets with community agencies and providers to raise awareness of literacy issues.


• Outstanding Achievement – Staff: Patrick Ryan.  Ryan is the warden of Baylor Women’s Correctional Institution, and ensures that education is a priority with the staff and inmates.  He attends all educational functions that recognize student achievement and his support of education at the prison has allowed educational programming to expand at BWCI.


• Outstanding Achievement – Volunteer: Becky Dare.  Mrs. Dare is a volunteer literacy tutor for the NEW START Adult Learning program.  Mrs. Dare has been instrumental in coordinating ESL classes in the Bear area.  She has initiated new ESL classes at her church, and has recruited several of her peers to serve as volunteer instructors.