2. 17 Career Education Review • January 2011
to sign up for the class to provide “Math for Moms and Dads” curriculum
better help to his son. Dr. Olson noted, was developed by reviewing the state
“…that’s what I really came for. Are standards for math education. “Technol-
there some teaching methods that I ogy and teaching methods have changed
can learn that will cut down on the recently, making it harder for parents to
friction between me and my son when help their children. In each Math for
we are doing his homework?” Another Moms class we ask for suggestions on
parent traveled 60 miles round trip to topics that parents want to address—
attend the class. Shelly Birch, a parent this has helped the course to be specific
volunteer and teacher’s aide, said she to parent needs,” Ledbetter said.
would “…recommend the class to any To our surprise the “Math for Moms
parent who would want to learn more and Dads” program resonated with the
and help their kids more….” local and state media and was featured
This little workshop seemed to by two TV news spots and was the topic
resonate with the local community. of a half dozen newspaper articles.
When continuing education is dis- Additionally, the Idaho Department of
cussed, it generally relates to some Education, seeing a real value in such a
grand, structured program. Sometimes program, asked Stevens-Henager College
education can be a simple thing with to deliver this program across all its
the benefit of overcoming perceived school districts in Idaho. This state
boundaries. From a parent’s perspec- has 117 school districts. According to
tive, it can result in building a sense of Christine Avila, Idaho State Mathematics
confidence to help their child and for Coordinator, “Parents are the first
the child it can mean the reinforcement teachers and we need strategies to help
of the idea and encouragement of parents help students.” The Stevens-
learning. In truth: continuing education Henager College Education Center
doesn’t have to be complicated. has been invited by the Idaho State
As career schools, we need to offer Department of Education to meet with
our assistance and support at every key players within the department to
opportunity to our local community create a statewide effort for “Math for
and school districts. According to Moms and Dads” classes. Community
Karen Ledbetter, dean of the Stevens- workshops can pay off. From the very
Henager College Education Center, the first session of the “Math for Moms and
MICHELE WILSON In her current role as director of business
came to private higher development for Stevens-Henager College, she
education from 25 years uses her global perspective to create relation-
working in the interna- ships, alliances and partnerships with businesses
tional business commu- and organizations in both the local and regional
nity. With over 15 years environments.
experience operating two
companies, she has exten- Contact Information:
sive experience working Michele M. Wilson
with firms both foreign and Director of Business Development
domestic. In 2008, she Stevens-Henager College
made presentations in 1444 S. Entertainment Avenue
Washington, DC to the U.S. State and Treasury Boise, ID 83709
Departments and was quoted and photographed in Phone: 208-383-4557
Inc. magazine in 2003. She is an active member and Fax: 208-345-6999
mentor for SCORE® (Counselors to America’s Small Email: michele.wilson@stevenshenager.edu
Business) and an avid proponent of women in Web Site: www.stevenshenager.edu
business and education.
3. Career Education Review • January 2011 18
Dads” workshop the Education Center and Computer Skills for Moms and
discovered the additional benefit of Dads” workshop series.
potential prospective students who From a community’s perspective,
were attracted to college by this special this is a wonderful example of collabora-
experience. During day one of the tion between a private educational
program, the college conducted three institution and a state entity to create
admissions interviews, which resulted innovative solutions to continued fiscal
in one interviewee starting school. educational budget shortfalls. From a
The only negative that the participants parent’s perspective, it can mean
expressed so far was an indication that confidence in their ability to help their
they wanted a longer workshop series. children succeed. And from a young
student’s standpoint, it can represent
The Stevens-Henager College CEC is
a new way to connect with supportive,
now expanding on what they have
loving parents.
learned in the “Math for Moms and
Dads” program by creating a “Writing
