Snead State Community College is serving as a base of operation for a new Adult Education Coordinator.

Melissa Ledbetter will be working within Marshall County to grow the Adult Education program to enhance its services for the community.

“I want to put more attention in Marshall County by working closely with our community partners, by recruiting GED students, and encouraging them to continue their education and training through programs like Ready to Work,” said Ms. Ledbetter.

With her office located on Snead State’s Boaz campus, she will be in a position to work closely with the College’s Workforce Development Department, which provides the successful Ready to Work program. Ready to Work is a free program that trains participants in essential job skills and work habits, and once completed, the students earn two industry-recognized certificates, the Alabama Certified Worker and the National Career Readiness Certificate. Completers also receive a tuition-free, three-credit-hour course from Snead State.

“I want to learn more about (Marshall County) and its needs. I want to get to know the different adult ed locations. I want to recruit new students to the program, but I also want to go one step further. I wanted to break the stigma of Adult Education being only for those who need to earn their GED. The program serves every person in a different way whether it be computer classes or general remediation prior to entering college. Also, due to COVID, we are now able to ser face to face, online and hybrid models of learning depending on the situation. I believe the process can be intimidating and keeps students from taking advantage of the free services we offer,” Ms. Ledbetter said.

Ms. Ledbetter said she’s excited about this new opportunity, one for which her career up to this point has prepared her. In addition to earning a Bachelor’s degree in Criminology and a Master’s degree in Human Resources with an emphasis in Strategic Leadership, her work experience began within the judicial system as a paralegal as she served in public office as a city councilwoman. But it was when she worked as an adjunct Adult Education instructor that she realized what she was meant to do.

“I fell in love with it. I knew this was where I was supposed to be. My experience really helps me in working with potential students. I know how to connect with them and reach them in different ways,” she said. “I want to assess a student’s weaknesses and strengths, so I know how to help them push through the steps to reach their goals on a larger scale. I want them to learn from and build on their successes as well as their mistakes.”

The Adult Education program is part of Northeast Alabama Community College but serves the Marshall County area. Ms. Ledbetter said there was many programs and services provided by the state that the community isn’t aware of, and she hopes to help spread the word so those programs can grow. The Adult Education program offers GED, general remediation, Digital Literacy Certification for basic computer training, English as a Second Language, and Ready to Work.

For more information, contact Ms. Ledbetter at melissa.ledbetter@snead.edu or by calling (256) 601-6854.