Hello Everyone:
I have greatly appreciated this opportunity to learn more about you and
also from you regarding career pathways and the working conditions in
our field. I don't want to see this important issue drop so I encourage
those of you who are silent observers to share with us your experiences
and/or passion for your work.

I thought I'd add to this exploration by sharing some of my answers to
my own questions below!

1) What state did you start your career in adult literacy?

Tennessee

2) How did you enter the field and into what role?

I have an undergraduate degree in environmental biology and chemistry,
and I worked as an environmental educator for years.  While I enjoyed my
job in environmental education, being part of "single-session" learning
opportunities in my environmental work primarily with children was not
enough.  I wanted to help others who were interested in the environment
to organize for change, particularly those who were affected by
environmental issues but had little voice in the circumstances that were
changing around them. I decided to go back to school to obtain teaching
credentials in secondary science education (Tennessee does not have
certification in adult education).

3) How did you move within the field?

I started teaching GED while working on my endorsement, but I was asked
to fill an unexpected vacancy at the high school.  I decided to assist
them with this need largely because of the pay increase. I moved from
the high school to a vocational high school working with disadvantaged
and at-risk youth teaching both agriscience and marketing, and we
engaged in project-based learning activities of the students' choosing.
One in particular that stands out was their organizing a public
relations campaign to raise awareness of water quality in our watershed.
This stemmed from their concern of outbreaks of illness and
hospitalization from poor water quality in the valley where we lived.
The vocational school was later bought by a local community college, so
I went back to state adult education and started teaching part time with
Tennessee's welfare reform initiative in 1998, and this work stole my
heart. (See "Stories of Lives Changed:
http://slincs.coe.utk.edu/video_library.html) I've been in adult
education and literacy ever since. I participated in action research
projects through the Center for Literacy Studies. Later, our AE program
funding was cut, so I started consulting work for the Center for
Literacy Studies (drove 4 hours/day to/from Knoxville). I now work full
time both in state professional development at the Center for Literacy
Studies and with the National Institute for Literacy. I relocated to
Knoxville to accept the full time position.

7) What supports or resources, if any, were helpful to you along the
way?

My most valuable support by far has been the staff at the Center for
Literacy Studies; the Association of Adult Literacy Professional
Developers; and colleagues, mentors, and friends such as Mary Ziegler,
Cristine Smith, David Rosen, and Lennox McLendon who all understand the
importance of mentoring in our field and building pathways for change.

8) Other thoughts?

I hope to keep hearing from others on this important issue. Thanks to
all who have contributed to this conversation so far.  Having this
discussion now can be a step towards change for our field if _you_ want
it to be.

Best, Jackie Taylor