Published in the June 24 – July 9, 2015 issue of Morgan Hill Life
By Dennis Browne
Dennis Browne
Every year, nearly 800 students enroll in the Morgan Hill Community Adult School to pursue their education and prepare themselves for the future. On Thursday June 11, the school’s staff, Morgan Hill Unified School District administrators and board members and I were proud to celebrate the graduation commencement of 34 of these residents with the commitment and courage to earn their credentials.
The adult school year runs from August to June. Students range from age 18 upward, and this year our most senior graduate was in his early 50s. A total of 49 students earned their Adult High School Diploma and 62 students passed their High School Equivalency Tests this year.
It’s important to celebrate these students’ accomplishment because they have faced many kinds of struggles and personal challenges in life. When I learn about the obstacles many of them have overcome in pursuit of an education, I feel in awe of them. I am impressed that they decided to take the time from their work and family life to return to the classroom and complete their secondary education for their own personal satisfaction, for employment reasons, or to go on to college.
We offer a diversity of options for our students. More than 130 adults come each year to Morgan Hill’s adult school to improve their English-language skills. High school seniors earn credits in our independent study program, making it possible for them to graduate from our district high schools.
Our students are helped by a team of 15 adult education teachers. Much of our instruction involves one-on-one learning between the teacher and the individual students. Classes are fairly small. Depending on the requirements, some students complete the program within a few weeks or a few months while others may take several years if they need to earn a high number of credits for their high school diploma.
Registration for classes for next school year begins Aug. 3 and classes begin Aug. 24. Visit our school located at 17960 Monterey Road or our website at www.adultschool.mhusd.org.
Dennis Browne is the principal of the Morgan Hill Community Adult School.
