Submitted by the Picataquis Valley Adult Education Cooperative
More than 300 adults in the Piscataquis Valley have earned high school diplomas, others have earned GEDs and many more have gained valuable workforce skills over the past six years thanks to the joint efforts of four school districts in Piscataquis and Penobscot counties.
School Administrative District 41 in the LaGrange area, Dexter-based SAD 46, SAD 68 of the Dover-Foxcroft area and Guilford-based SAD 4 joined forces in 2006 to operate the Piscataquis Valley Adult Education Cooperative. The cooperative serves 18 communities in Piscataquis and Penobscot counties and outlying areas.
Enrollment in the districts’ adult education courses has grown steadily since the cooperative formed.
The cooperative operates a full-time adult education center in Dover-Foxcroft, which features a state-of-the-art technology lab that has been instrumental in providing displaced workers with the skills they need to re-enter the workforce.
While adult education evening classes are still offered in each participating district, the atmosphere of the adult education center has proven a draw for adult learners.
Each student is provided an individualized pathway to pursue his or her goals. One-stop shopping at the adult education center provides them with the connections and support they need.
Thank you to the Piscataquis Valley Adult Education Collaborative for this submission. Share news from your school.
Resources and more information
- Thelma Regan, Director
Piscataquis Valley Adult Education Cooperative
207-564-6525
tregan@pvaec.org - Piscataquis Valley Cooperative website
- Adult Education at the Maine DOE
- More photos from the Piscataquis Valley Adult Education Cooperative