Community/Continuing Education
Susan Heathershaw, Community/Continuing Education Coordinator, Phone
Samuel Gardipe, Jr., Assistant Coordinator, Phone
The Community/Continuing Education Department began as the Adult Education department in 1973. The major
component of the department was GED testing. In the years that followed the department grew to include
community education, life coping skill workshops, adult basic education and GED tutoring. The name of the
department was changed from Adult education to Community/Continuing education. This was translated into
Lakota Language as "Tiospaye Iciyohikeya Wounspe", which means community and continuing education, which
serves in the spirit of the mission and purposes of the College.
Community education is a philosophical concept that serves the entire reservation community by providing for
all of the educational needs of its community members. It uses the local resources to serve as the catalyst
for bringing community efforts to bear on their needs. In addition to the effort to develop a positive sense
of community, improve community living, and develop the community process toward the goal of self
actualization.
The Community/Continuing Education Department offers a program responsive to the needs of the people of the
Pine Ridge Reservation. The department tutors are responsible for preparing students for taking the GED
tests. The instruction provided for the student is on an individualized basis and set up to meet the
individual needs of the student. Tutoring is provided at the local college centers. The majority
Community/Continuing Education Department tutors are bilingual and live in the community they serve. The
department offers life long learning through life coping skills workshops, and continuing education.
Career counseling is another feature of the department. Each student completes a Career Occupational
Preference System interest inventory. This inventory assists the students in the selection of a career, and
allows them the opportunity to pursue this career choice.
Major components of the department are:
I. Adult Basic Education Skills Tutoring in reading, writing, listening, speaking, and mathematics.
II. GED Tutoring in high school subjects of writing, language arts, mathematics, social studies, and
science.
III. GED Testing Services is provided with authority from Washington, D.C.
IV. Life Coping Skills Workshops are short courses in many areas such as; consumer economics, jobskills,
law and government, Lakota culture and health.
V. Career Counseling and Job Seeking Skills
VII. Family Literacy
| Community/Continuing Education Documents |
