Q&A with David Brenner, South Portland Adult Education coordinator

SOUTH PORTLAND – Launched in September 2008, the South Portland Adult Education program, run out of South Portland High School, was started to provide a way for adults in the city to continue their high school education and enhance their educational pursuits.

The program now has a new coordinator, David Brenner, and will be holding an informational meeting Tuesday, Sept. 14, 6 to 7:30 p.m., at the high school.

“We encourage people to come by, meet the instructors and hear about our programming,” said Brenner.

The Current caught up with Brenner just prior to the start of the programming schedule to discuss the offerings of adult education, what it means to the city of South Portland and what is on tap for the future.

Q: How did the South Portland Adult Education Program begin?

A: This is the third year of the program. We connected with Portland Adult Education to get the program going. That was a two-year commitment, so now we are on our own.

Q: What is the overall goal of the adult education program?

A: The goal of the program is to provide meaningful courses for adults in our community, to provide them an opportunity to earn their General Education Development, to learn other practical skills and to provide enrichment opportunities.

Q: While the classes are apt to change from time to time, what is generally offered through your program?

A: We offer three tracks of classes. The first track is math, history, English, GED courses. Those are free. The second track is English Language Learner, beginning, intermediate and advanced, along with Communication and Pronunciation. Those classes are also free. The third track is enrichment classes. This fall they include Microsoft Excel, Adobe Photoshop, Becoming a Notary Public and possibly others. I may schedule others, but I don’t know if they will fill or not yet. We do have to charge money for those classes to pay the instructors.

We are always looking to add programs. We look at other adult education programs to see what they are doing, but I am open to hearing from the residents to see what they might like to take.

We’ll always carry classes for GED, English, history, classes for English language learners. The history course this fall is The U.S. Constitution: Supreme Court Cases that Defined a Nation. The English course is Writing Across Genres. In the spring we are going to have a citizenship class.

Q: How many adults do you expect to serve through South Portland Adult Education this school year?

A: Last year we served around 180 adults, which averages out to 90 a semester. I am hoping we can hit that number again.

Q: Now independent from the Portland Adult Education Program, what is your goal for South Portland’s program?

A: We are hoping to expand the program to offer classes at satellite locations around the city or possibly offer child care during classes. I am trying to break down the barriers that prevent people from taking our classes. Those are two of the biggest ones. The courses will be at South Portland High School, but I hope to have more locations soon. I see the program as a big benefit to the community. I hope to get great cooperation with other agencies and sites as we try to provide adults in the community with the best in continuing education.

Q: The South Portland Parks and Recreation Department at the Community Center also offers a host of courses and programming for adults. How do your offerings differ?

A: We’re trying not to step on anyone’s toes. We are not going to offer classes that deal with movement, such as dancing or athletics, or anything like that. I anticipate working very closely with them because we are trying to do the same thing, which is to provide education opportunities for residents.

Q: What is your background in education and how did you become interested in the field?

A: I am a teacher at the high school. I work in the special education department. I always wanted to teach and started a number of years ago. I have been at South Portland for 12 years. I was interested in adult education because a lot of students, despite their best efforts and despite our best efforts, don’t finish high school. I think it is important for them to finish. We are hoping to reach a lot of adults in South Portland who weren’t able to finish and help them get their GED.