Windsor Adult Education Announces CAACE Learner of the Year Award Recipient

Windsor Adult Education is pleased to announce Andrea Gamble has been chosen as one of five winners from across the State of Connecticut for the CAACE (Connecticut Association for Adult & Continuing Education) Learner of the Year Award. Gamble was nominated by the Windsor Adult Education staff for her commitment to her educational goals and to her family.

As an award recipient, she will receive a scholarship award of $500 and a plaque. Gamble and a guest are also invited to the annual Awards Luncheon which will be held as part of the CAACE Conference on Friday, March 31st 2017 from 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM at Mystic Marriott Hotel, 625 North Rd (Rte.117) in Groton.

Gamble began her educational journey enrolled in the daytime Adult Basic Educational program. She continued preparing for the GED exam by enrolling every semester until the middle of the spring 2012 semester. Gamble stopped coming to classes after a long process of trying to provide proof of legal residency. This meant that she, along with her three young sons, had to return to Jamaica for three years and then reapply for USA residency. She was devastated as she had to return to Jamaica without her husband and their boys would have to live without having their father’s presence and guidance on a daily basis. While in Jamaica, Andrea continued her education by taking business management courses at the local university and worked at the local school as a substitute kindergarten teacher to make ends meet.

Gamble was able to return to Connecticut on June 24, 2015 and enrolled for the fall 2015 Windsor Adult Education program to continue her educational commitment. Her progress that semester qualified her for the National External Diploma Program (NEDP). Through program collaboration, she was accepted and attended the West Hartford Adult Education NEDP. Gamble started her NEDP commitment in January of 2016 and successfully completed by May. In July of 2016 she enrolled at Capital Community College and earned her Certified Nursing Assistant Certification in August.
Andrea plans to stay committed to her educational goals and continue taking courses in the health field and possibly obtain a Registered Nursing Degree. She is currently working as a certified nursing assistant (CNA).

About Windsor Adult Education:
Windsor Adult Education provides mandated educational services to adult residents 17 years of age or older. Mandated courses include high school completion, adult basic education, English language, and American citizenship instruction. These courses are offered during the day at the Board of Education and in the evening at Windsor High School. Mandated program are free of charge. Enrichment courses are tuition-based and self-sustaining. Windsor Adult Education believes that education is a "Lifelong Process.” For more information, please visit www.windsoradulted.org.

About the Connecticut Association for Adult & Continuing Education:
Our purpose is to provide leadership in advancing the concept of lifelong learning,and to conduct, promote, and sponsor professional development conferences and activities. CAACE is the only adult education professional organization that advocates for continued and increased Federal and State adult education funding. For more information, please visit www.caace.org.

About Windsor Public Schools:
Windsor Public Schools serves nearly 4,000 students in the community of Windsor, Connecticut, a town located in north central Connecticut between Hartford and Springfield, Massachusetts. Windsor Public Schools is comprised of six schools: Oliver Ellsworth School, Poquonock School, Clover Street School, John F. Kennedy School, Sage Park Middle School, and Windsor High School. The mission of Windsor Public Schools is to develop the genius in every child and to create lifelong learners. For more information about the Windsor Board of Education and any of its schools, please visit www.windsorct.org.