Idaho Governor Brad Little has officially declared the week of Sept. 18 – 22 as Adult Education and Family Literacy Week! This proclamation was championed by College of Western Idaho's (CWI) Adult Education Onramp Program Coordinator, Sarah Strickley.
Strickley also serves as the Idaho State Advocate for Adult Education Fellow for the national organization, Coalition for Adult Basic Education (COABE). Her role involves advocating for adult education funding in Idaho by raising awareness in national and regional policy discussions. In line with this mission, she submitted a proclamation request to the Idaho government, aligning with a national initiative that aims to celebrate and improve access to adult education for individuals in Idaho, helping them achieve their professional and personal goals.
Little signed the proclamation on Wednesday, Sept. 20, with Strickley; Adult Education Teacher, Amy Daniels; Adult Education IET ESL Teacher, David Johnson; Strategic Projects Executive Director, Jillana Finnegan; Tutoring Services Supervisor, Liz Fleshman; and leadership from Idaho Division of Career Technical Education (IDCTE) present.
“Adult education is key to a skilled workforce that sustains Idaho’s economy and allows families and communities to thrive,” said Strickley. “As an advocate for the transformative power of Adult Education, I appreciate Governor Little honoring Adult Education and Family Literacy Week.”
Also at Wednesday’s proclamation was CWI Adult Education alumna and Onramp Student Assistant Teacher, Katia Shvab, who won the Student Leader in Adult Education award, presented by IDCTE State Director of Adult Education, Trevi Hardy. Shvab, who is originally from Ukraine, was enrolled in several classes in CWI’s Adult Education, including English as a Second Language (ESL) and Onramp classes.