WV Adult Education programs build skills for success by providing adults with the opportunity to acquire and improve skills necessary to better the quality of their lives as workers, family members, and citizens. These programs play an important role in fostering productive employment, effective citizenship, personal and family growth, self-esteem, and dignity for adult learners.
Individuals eligible to receive services must be at least 16 years of age and not enrolled or required to be enrolled in secondary school under state law. Additionally, an eligible individual must meet at least one of the following criteria:
be basic skills deficient;
not have a high school diploma or its equivalent;
be an English language learner.
Educational services are available at no cost to adult learners and are designed to meet the educational needs of each individual. Certified adult education instructors provide instruction.
The type of training adult education offers can be broadly divided into three categories:
All Adult Education Services are FREE!
Cathy Stickel is an instructor at the Berkeley County Adult Learning Center. She is a graduate of Hedgesville High School and continued her education at Shepherd University obtaining a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education.
Cathy has been in the field of education for 18 years. During that time, Cathy taught elementary and middle school before coming to adult education.
In addition to teaching, she enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, reading, and volunteering in the community.
Mrs. Shafer is a West Virginia native and a graduate of Dunbar High School. She went on to earn an Associate Degree from West Virginia State University and a Bachelor’s Degree from Mountain State University.
Mrs. Shafer retired from a local law firm after 29 years as a Paralegal. She also has experience as an Adjunct Professor at Shepherd University and Shenandoah University teaching legal assisting classes. Mrs. Shafer acted as a Substitute Teacher for Berkeley County Schools before beginning her employment at the Berkeley County Adult Learning Center nine years ago.
She is married to her junior high sweetheart, Randy. Their daughter, Kacy Harmon, is a teacher for Berkeley County Schools. She is a proud Grandma to her first grandson, Berkeley, born in April, 2023!
