I've enjoyed reading everyone's responses to Jackie's questions about
pathways in adult ed.  So far, no two are alike, and my guess is that no
thousand are alike.  Here is the route my pathway has taken.

Jane C. Miller
ESL Specialist/Professional Development Coordinator
Colorado Dept of Education - Adult Education & Family Literacy 
 

1) What state did you start your career in adult literacy?
	My home state of Colorado.

2) How did you enter the field and into what role?
	I was taking a break from a previous career as a technical
writer for a major telecommunications corporation.  I saw an
announcement in a United Way volunteer publication about teaching
English to immigrant adults. I went to observe and saw a teacher running
back and forth across a hallway - simultaneously teaching beginners in
one classroom and intermediates in another.  I volunteered and
immediately was hooked by the creativity that ESL teaching allowed me
and the appreciation I received from the adult learners. 

3) How did you move within the field?  

I realized that I needed more grounding in theory and practice of
teaching so I enrolled in a university graduate program to get an MA in
education.  Although the school's focus was in K-12 teacher prep, there
was a hardy band of 6 of us interested in ESL adult ed.  We supported
each other through several years of night courses. 

Like most colleagues in adult ed, for the next several years I pieced
together part time work.  I taught ESL part time at a non-profit adult
ed program, an ESL writing course as an adjunct instructor at a
community college, the practicum class at the university where I got the
MA, and various short term classes or projects.  I worked my way up to
15 classroom contact hours/week at the non-profit. Throughout these
years my husband had a full time job, with benefits. 

In 2002-2003, I went overseas through the U.S. State Department's
English Language Fellow program.  I was a senior fellow responsible for
EFL teacher training, so my skills took a huge leap.  While I was
overseas a friend told me about an opening at the Colorado Dept. of
Education for a professional development coordinator in the adult ed
unit.  Thanks to the technology of the internet, fax machines, and a
very long distance phone interview, I was offered the job. I now have a
full time job in adult education, with benefits, and  opportunities to
work with program directors and adult ed teachers state wide.

4) Did you leave the field, if so, to what position, and why?
	My year overseas could be considered "leaving the field" of
American adult ed, but the teacher training skills I developed have been
of great value since my return.	

7) What supports or resources, if any, were helpful to you along the
way?
	A network of adult ed ESL colleagues, TESOL - with its
conferences and publications, our Colorado CoTESOL, NCSALL, the nifl
listservs, CAL/CAELA, our Colorado adult ed association, Meeting of the
Minds I and II, the internet - all the resources where I can learn more
about the field.

8) Other thoughts?
	I enjoy meeting in person the people who are in the adult ed
listserv community.  Nothing else right now - gotta get back to work!

Jane



 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jackie Taylor, Adult Literacy Professional Development List Moderator,
jataylor at utk.edu National Institute for Literacy http://www.nifl.gov/
Association of Adult Literacy Professional Developers
http://www.aalpd.org/ 

.

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