FARMINGTON — On Tuesday, June 13, Nancy Allen, director of adult education for Regional School Unit 9, gave her final administrative report to the Board of Directors before her retirement later this month.
Allen announced her retirement from her position in March. She has been in administrative roles for the past 18 years with the last three years spent with RSU 9.
“I just want to say thank you again for being the director of adult education for these three years, two of which I’ve had the pleasure of working with you,” Superintendent Christian Elkington said to Allen. “I wish you much enjoyment.”
“I’m very glad that I came here for my last three years,” Allen stated. “It helped reignite what I wanted to do, and I appreciate all the confidence and support that there has been here. Thank you very much. I greatly appreciate it.”
In her administrative report, she highlighted new hires Dillon Baker and Keith Nile. Baker will be joining as a communications specialist and is also a graduate of Mt. Blue High School as well as a graduate of the Foster Career and Technical Education Center.
“He has been working on all of our graduation stuff,” Allen stated. “So, it’s been nice to have that second pair of hands around.”
Nile, an army veteran, will be joining as Rangeley Lakes Area Coordinator. Nile is currently working on his PhD and has experience serving and teaching special operations in the U.S Army.
Allen also corrected her report, stating they had 21 participants graduating from the Adult Education program the following night on Wednesday, June 14. “We’re very excited to have 21 [graduating] tomorrow night,” Allen stated.
Allen also showcased the growth of their enrichment classes, which saw a 50% increase in the number of applications from fall to spring. In the fall, they had 169 students in 23 classes, whereas in the spring they saw 245 students in 36 classes. A total of 414 students participated in the enrichment program with the most popular class being Korean cooking.
“It’s just thrilling to see that back,” Allen said. “Everybody’s back and having fun. You’re walking down the hall and people are laughing. It’s just been great.”
Several students also participated in a field trip to Central Maine Community College, which was a first time for many of the students and even the staff that went with them.
“A lot of them [staff] had never been there,” Allen stated. “It is a school that many of our students go to, and they got to see what was available. I think that’s really important for teachers to see that as well as the students.”
Allen followed that up stating that she believes two or three students from the trip had applied to attend CMCC.
Allen reported that 21 individuals participated in their workforce program, with four participating in the certified nursing assistant program, four participating in the CNA-MED program, eight in the personal support specialist program, and five in the certified residential medication aid program.
“The Franklin County Commissioners paid for the CNA class and the PSS class,” Allen stated. “So, that is a triumph in itself.”
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