On the outskirts of Hollister, in an upstairs classroom just off San Felipe Road, lives are being changed.
That is where Community Services and Workforce Development Instructor Deborah Muscari and Instructional Aide Patty Torres are giving the gift of education to community members who are hoping to better there lives.
“My talent lies in helping those who need it,” Muscari said. “I could teach honors students but they don’t need much help. It’s much more rewarding to help those who need it.”
Muscari, who is going into her eighth year with the program, teaches the Computer Enhanced General Education (CEGE) class. When county residents come to the community services office looking for job training, they take an assessment test. In order to go straight to a training program, they must test at the tenth-grade level, and if they do not, they’re placed in Muscari and Torres’ classroom.
“Most of my students didn’t like school the first time around, which is why they’re here,” she said. “But to see someone set on fire about learning and say ‘oh my God, I really can learn and I want to go on,’ well that’s a great feeling.”
Student Victor Hernandez is a product of Muscari’s encouragement. It’s been more than 20 years since he’s been in a classroom, but after two months with the program he’s decided to continue to Gavilan College after he gets his General Equivalency Diploma (GED).
“I’m back in school because I want to improve my life,” Hernandez said. “I didn’t love school when I was younger but I do now. I realize now education is the answer.”
Torres, who has been with the program 10 years, said it’s very rewarding for her to watch how far these students have come.
“To assist people who have had barriers in employment and watch them overcome and succeed is wonderful,” she said.
Student Cecilia Duran’s language skills have always been a job barrier for her. Spanish is her first language, but she said after two months in the program, she sees a huge improvement in her English vocabulary.
“I’ve come here to get a better job and because Spanish is my first language, I’ve been working a lot to improve my language skills and reading,” she said.
The class, which meets from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., is broken up into spelling, math, language arts and computer lab where the students learn about computers, the Internet and do research online. The classes run all year in three-month increments with three-week breaks in between. Along with studying for their GED, the students learn life lessons, like estimating purchases at the grocery store.
Anna Sabatino said she’s getting more than an educational experience; she’s learning about life.
“There is more one-on-one time with the teacher and it makes it easier to learn, and I’ve learned a lot more knowledge about life,” she said.
Christine Tognetti can be reached at 637-5566, ext. 330 or at
ct*******@fr***********.com
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