Rebecca Contreras
President & CEO of AvantGarde LLC
The Power of Second Chances: How Adult Education Changed My Life
If there was ever a time in my life when I felt trapped in a cycle of despair, it was when I was 19 years old. I was a high school dropout, a single mother on welfare, and living in poverty with no clear path out. Deep down, I knew I wanted more for my daughter and for myself. That desire for change led me to a life-altering decision: I needed to go back to school and get my GED.
The journey wasn’t easy. Up until that point, my life had been filled with poor choices and destructive behaviors. I was caught in a cycle of poverty and addiction, much like my mother before me. But I knew that if I didn’t take action, I was dooming my daughter to the same fate. I had to break the cycle, and the first step was education.
I enrolled in a program in Austin, which was designed to help mothers like me get their GEDs and acquire basic job skills. The program was my lifeline—a way to finally take control of my future. Getting my GED was no walk in the park. Math had always been a struggle for me, and there were moments when I felt like giving up. But I was encouraged by my counselor to keep going, and that persistence paid off. Passing that math test and receiving my GED was one of the proudest moments of my life. It was the first step towards a better future, not just for me, but for my daughter as well.
Within weeks after getting my GED, I landed a temp job working for the iconic Ann Richards, who was the Treasurer of Texas, and within a few months, I was offered a permanent position as an HR Receptionist working for the State Treasury Department. But my journey didn’t end there. I started at the bottom and worked my way up, eventually becoming the HR Director for then-Governor George W. Bush in just six years.
Looking back, I realize that the GED program was more than just an educational opportunity—it was the catalyst for my transformation. For the first time, I had mentors who told me, “Becky, you are smart.” Those words were powerful because no one had ever said that to me before. They challenged me to think about what was possible if I applied myself and took control of my future.
Today, after a career where I worked for President George W. Bush in the White House and now as the CEO of a thriving 125+ employee consulting firm that I founded myself, I can trace all my accomplishments back to that first decision to pursue my GED. My journey is proof that it’s never too late to change your life through education. No matter where you start, with resilience, resolve, and grit, you can overcome any obstacle and achieve your dreams. My hope is that my story will inspire others to take that first step towards a better future, just as I did all those years ago.
Aminata Sy
United States Foreign Service Officer
Aminata Sy serves as an officer of the United States foreign service, however, her journey there was not an easy one. Aminata Sy came to the United States in 2001 from Senegal to settle in Philadelphia with her husband. Without knowing English, and having discontinued high school, Aminata was uncertain what her future would hold. She began attending adult education classes and not only learned English fluently, she also earned her GED credential. During this time she became a mother to three, and juggling family and school was always a challenge, but one that she faced head on. From there, she earned an associate’s degree in international studies, with highest honors, from Community College of Philadelphia, a bachelor’s degree in international relations, cum laude with distinction, from the University of Pennsylvania, and a master’s degree in public policy from American University. Aminata dreamed of a career in the foreign service and she trained in American diplomacy through the U.S. Department of State Rangel Graduate Fellowship Program. As an intern for Congress, she learned a wealth of knowledge, and she used this to shine a spotlight on her community by writing pieces for different publications that focused on the stories of black Americans and African immigrants. In addition, she also founded the nonprofit, African Community Learning Program, which helped underprivileged youth receive a more culturally relevant and responsive curriculum using public policy as the fulcrum to progress.
Aminata is the founder and CEO of Aminata Sy Enterprises, LLC, where she inspires others through her story to be their best and to succeed against all odds. She has written a book about her story, Destined: A Story of Resilience and Beating the Odds, and travels the world to show others that they can be anything they work hard enough for. She is fluent in English, French, Portuguese, Pulaar, Wolof and Spanish. She has received the Philadelphia Mayoral Citation for her public policy and educational contributions to her city, and was named among Philadelphia’s Most Influential by The Philadelphia Tribune. She states, “I know how far education can take you. There is a direct connection between my GED and my success. Never give up on yourself as a person. When you give up on yourself, you give up on your family, you give up on your community, you give up on your country, and you give up on the world.”
Jedidiah Collins
CEO and Founder of Money Vehicle
Jedidiah Collins started as a rookie in the NFL in 2008 without knowing the first thing about managing money. His first paycheck had been spent before he even opened the envelope. He writes, “What would you do if I handed you a check for $30,000? I was going to buy an engagement ring for the girl sitting next to me. I will say after fifteen years of marriage it turned out to be the best investment I have made, but it also gave me the realization that I was financially illiterate!”
In 2014, he became a Certified Financial Planner® and completed the journey from student to expert in the field of money. This is also where he developed a passion to teach others. Going out to schools and companies and delivering financial wellness workshops. It was at one of these workshops where someone asked him “How will you teach 1,000,000 students?”
In 2020, he became an entrepreneur and founded a company that he wished existed when he was in school. This education technology company delivers a class to students across the country with the click of a button that will take them through how to handle their first paycheck.
It has become Jedidiah’s mission to make sure that others like him get the information they need to handle the money they get. Jedidiah states, “We cannot simply define the terms around money, we must translate them through engaging stories and analogies that allow the complex to be simplified.” It is with this vision he hopes to educate Americans nationwide and make our nation a more financially literate country.
Story Musgrave Joins Educate & Elevate as Campaign Advocate
Educate & Elevate Campaign is leading the charge to raise awareness about the many faces and relevance of adult education. Federal budget proposals for 2018 suggest a cut of $95 million to adult education programs, including literacy courses, as part of a larger $9 billion cut to the Department of Education budget.
To help safeguard these vital programs, the Educate & Elevate Campaign is a national endeavor aimed at highlighting how an investment in adult education represents a bold commitment to America’s future. A big part of the campaign is to highlight success stories and the many surprising faces of adult learners who are advocates for adult education.
Story Musgrave is an exceptional example of adult learner success, who is also an advocate for the Educate & Elevate campaign. Mr. Musgrave never finished school, but instead joined the military and went off to Korea with the U.S. Marines where he was an aircraft electrician and an engine mechanic. He started flying with the Marines and over the next 55 years accumulated 18,000 hours in more than 160 aircraft.
Using adult education as a catalyst for change, Mr. Musgrave obtained a GED® diploma and went on to become the only astronaut to have flown in all five space shuttles resulting in six space flights. He has earned seven graduate degrees and 20 honorary doctorate degrees.
“Funding for adult education is critical to our nation’s success,” said Musgrave. “We must include everyone in helping them to achieve their educational goals, and we need to prepare them for life, for a career, and for college no matter where they are in their educational journey.” In the coming weeks, expect to hear more stories from leaders like Musgrave about the value of adult education as Educate & Elevate seeks to advocate for this vital resource.
Vice Admiral Richard H. Carmona, M.D., M.P.H., F.A.C.S.
Former United States Surgeon General
Commander, USPHS Commissioned Corps
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Vice Admiral Richard H. Carmona was sworn in as the 17th Surgeon General of the United States Public Health Service on August 5, 2002.
Born and raised in New York City, Dr. Carmona dropped out of high school and enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1967. While enlisted, he received his Army General Equivalency Diploma (GED®), joined the Army’s Special Forces, and ultimately became a combat-decorated Vietnam veteran. It was during this time he began his career in medicine.
After leaving active duty, Dr. Carmona attended Bronx Community College, of the City University of New York, where he earned his Associate of Arts degree. He later attended and graduated from the University of California, San Francisco, with a Bachelor of Science degree (1977) and medical degree (1979). At the University of California Medical School, Dr. Carmona was awarded the prestigious gold headed cane as the top graduate. He has also earned a master’s of public health from the University of Arizona (1998).
Dr. Carmona has worked in various positions in the medical field including paramedic, registered nurse and physician. Dr. Carmona completed a surgical residency at the University of California, San Francisco, and a National Institutes of Health-sponsored fellowship in trauma, burns and critical care. Dr. Carmona is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, and is also certified in correctional health care and in quality assurance.
Prior to being named Surgeon General, Dr. Carmona was the chairman of the State of Arizona Southern Regional Emergency Medical System, a professor of surgery, public health and family and community medicine at the University of Arizona, and the Pima County Sheriff’s Department surgeon and deputy sheriff.
Dr. Carmona has also held progressive positions of responsibility as chief medical officer, hospital chief executive officer, public health officer, and finally chief executive officer of the Pima county health care system. He has also served as a medical director of police and fire departments and is a fully-qualified peace officer with expertise in special operations and emergency preparedness, including weapons of mass destruction.
Stephanie Rodriguez,
New Mexico Higher Education Secretary
To see her now as the New Mexico Higher Education Secretary—and one of the youngest cabinet secretaries of any education sector in the United States—you may think that Stephanie Rodriguez has always loved school. In reality, her commitment to education—especially adult education—comes from adversity.
Stephanie’s high school studies were completely derailed by family hardships. Her mother spent nearly all of her time and energy helping Stephanie’s sister through personal struggles, and her father worked harder than ever to provide for his family, including a two-year-old nephew that they were fostering. In the midst of these overwhelming difficulties, Stephanie’s schoolwork did not seem to matter that much. Although she had been a good student, she completely disengaged from her classes and failed nearly all of them. The vice principal of her high school called an emergency meeting to let her parents know that she would be dropped completely.
As they left the meeting, Stephanie and her parents happened to run into the principal, who had been her principal while she was in middle school. Upon hearing about Stephanie’s situation, the principal worked with her and her family to move her into the school’s Learning Center on the other side of campus, an adult education pilot program working with struggling students from the high school. Unlike her typical classes, teachers in the Learning Center worked with her one-on-one to help her earn her high school equivalency diploma. Through these classes, and the guidance and encouragement of her new adult education teacher, Stephanie earned her high school diploma and continued on to pursue a bachelor’s and master’s degree at the School of Architecture and Planning at The University of New Mexico.
Stephanie has now worked in Congress, across state government, and is currently New Mexico’s Higher Education Secretary. Under her guidance, the NM Higher Education Department has dramatically increased its Adult Education Division’s budget and has seen adult learner enrollment rise from around 8,000 to over 10,000. She is committed to advocating for colleges and adult education programs because, as she says, “My work is fueled by the educator who believed in me.”
Assemblymember Kevin McCarty
Assemblymember Kevin McCarty is one of California’s foremost advocates for education at all levels, including adult programs. His Assembly Bill No. 2098, for example, requires future assessments of adult education programs to consider how well those programs serve the local immigrant population, highlighting the impact that such programs can have on helping immigrants learn English, support their children’s education, become citizens, and find employment. McCarty recently authored another bill which ensures the effective use of all adult education funds throughout the state. This bill is student-centered and works to ensure that students benefit from the allocation of resources. He also helped California adult schools receive a 4.1% cost-of-living adjustment, a step towards returning their funding levels to their pre-recession levels in 2008.
McCarty knows the value of adult education firsthand. He dropped out of school in his senior year because he was more focused on baseball than on learning. By the time he realized what a mistake he had made, traditional school was no longer an option. Adult education gave him a chance to get his life back on track. After earning his high school diploma, he attended American River College, CSU Long Beach, and finally earned his master’s degree in public policy and administration from Sacramento State.
McCarty currently serves as Chair of the Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Education Finance, which oversees the largest component of California’s multi-billion dollar budget. In this role, McCarty has made historic investments in public education, including expanding access to preschool for low- and middle-income families, providing better career and technical education (CTE) programs, and increasing student enrollment at California’s public colleges and universities.
Hector Martinez – Director for Adult Education at Kansas Board of Regents
Hector Martinez and his wife moved to the United States with their four young children in 1999. After arriving in Houston, TX and sleeping on the floor of a family member’s kitchen with his wife and 4 children, Hector searched for work. Despite speaking little English, he found employment selling air conditioners door-to-door, earning just enough for rent and groceries every month. He also worked in a restaurant which allowed him to bring home meals for the family but did not provide financial stability.
In December 1999, the family moved to Kansas where they lived in a tiny camper without running water or electricity. The winters were very cold, and the summers were very hot. Hector found a job at a meat packaging plant where, for years, he worked all night and attended the Learning Center by day, as he received English as a Second Language. HIs desire to give back led him to find time to also volunteer at the Learning Center as a computer instructor, leading to 2 hours of sleep per day for years.
Hector received his visa in 2001 and began working as a computer coordinator at the same learning center where he received services. That following year, his family moved into their own home in 2002—a milestone in their pursuit of financial stability.
While applying for permanent residency status, Hector was promoted in 2006 to Director of the Learning Center, while serving as district representative and president of the Kansas State Adult Education Association, his state association. He joined the Coalition on Adult Basic Education and served at the national level as a regional representative for seven states and chaired the Technology Committee for COABE’s national conferences.
Today, Hector and his family have all become American citizens, and his four children have graduated college and become professionals—an architect, family therapist, computer engineer, and physics engineer. His wife recently completed her teaching degree, and Hector has gone on to rise to the highest ranks of adult education in his state, now serving as the State Director of Kansas.
Hector was recently elected in October 2023 to serve as COABE’s president elect. The president elect role brings Hector in to 6 years of leadership (2 as president elect, 2 as president, and 2 as past president) of a 45,000-member strong association. In this role, he will work cooperatively with the President’s Triumvirate and the Chief Executive Officer to guide the largest adult education association in the world.