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Last year, almost 20,000 Georgians changed their lives for the better and improved their job opportunities by obtaining their GED diploma.  That number seems small, however, when compared to the more than 1.1 million Georgians over the age of 25 who are still without their high school or GED diploma. In Bryan, Chatham, Effingham and Liberty counties combined, there are over 41,000 people who do not have a high school or GED diploma.

The odds against these citizens without a secondary education credential are disheartening.  They’ll earn an average of almost $9,000 less annually than a person with a GED or high school diploma.  Their chances of going to prison are higher.  And their self-esteem is lower.

The TCSG Office of Adult Education (OAE), which manages the state’s adult education and GED Testing programs, has instituted a major campaign to increase the number of Georgia General Educational Development (GED) diploma recipients.  Reaching that goal will require help, however, and OAE believes that the answer lies in strategic collaboration with local community leaders.

That’s why OAE is convening a community outreach program symposium on April 27th at Savannah Technical College, Eckburg Auditorium from 7:45 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.  Community leaders from the Savannah-area will engage with state leaders and guest speakers in a series of sessions designed to develop plans to increase opportunities for advanced employment and postsecondary education options through improved literacy in their communities. 

The keynote speaker will be Georgia Department of Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond.

The agenda is as follows:

Agenda

7:45 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.             Registration and Breakfast

8:30 a.m. – 8:35 a.m.             Welcome                   

Dr. Kathy Love, President – Savannah Technical College (STC)

Master of Ceremonies: Sonny Dixon, Anchor – WTOC, Savannah

8:35 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.             SESSION I                                                                

Student Testimonials

Kiysa Burnett, GED graduate & STC student

James White, GED graduate & STC student

Greetings

Mary Flanders, Member – State Board of Technical and Adult Education, Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG)

Rev. Thurmond N. Tillman, Chair – STC Board & Pastor – First African    Baptist Church, Savannah

Bill Hubbard, President – Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau

Georgia State Senator Lester Jackson

United States Senator Johnny Isakson (via video message)

Mayor Otis Johnson, City of Savannah Proclamation

Cathy Hill, Vice President of Georgia Power-Coastal Region – Southern Company (sponsor)

Overview of TCSG & the Office of Adult Education (OAE)

Ronald W. Jackson, Commissioner – TCSG

Dr. Josephine Reed-Taylor, Deputy Commissioner – TCSG

9:30 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.           SESSION II

Building Community Partnerships

Billie Izard, Executive Director – Certified Literate Community Program (CLCP), OAE-TCSG

Joe Bishop, Executive Director – Houston County CLCP                                        

10:15 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.                     Break                                     

10:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.         SESSION III                                                              

Savannah Technical College

Dr. Kathy Love, President – STC 

Dr. Ken Boyd, Vice President of Economic Development – STC

11:00 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.         SESSION IV

GED Harvest (Chatham, Liberty, Bryan & Effingham Counties)

Kim Lee, Director of the GED® Testing Program – TCSG

11:15 a.m. – 11:20 a.m.                     Introduction of Keynote Speaker

Howard J. Morrison, Trustee – STC Foundation

11:20 a.m. – 11:50 noon       SESSION V

Keynote Speaker

Michael L. Thurmond, Commissioner – Georgia Department of Labor

11:50 a.m. – 11:53 a.m.                     The Blessing

Rev. Thurmond N. Tillman, Chair – STC Board & Pastor – First African Baptist Church, Savannah

11:53 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.         Lunch

Lisa Eason, Assistant Commissioner of Administration, TCSG

12:30p.m. – 1:00 p.m.                        SESSION VI

Opportunities for Collaboration & Establishing GED Preparation Programs

Bobby Creech, Regional Education Coordinator, OAE-TCSG

Charita Boles, Executive Director of Adult Education, STC

1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.             SESSION VII                                                             

Show Me the Money: Finding Resources to Support Local Programs

Sarah Todd, Regional Manager – Georgia Center for Nonprofits, Coastal Georgia-Savannah Regional Office

2:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.             Q&A/Call to Action and Closing Remarks

Adjourn