Congratulations to the VAACE 2024 Award Winners

Outstanding Adult Education Leadership Award

Stacey Wright
Region 12 West Piedmont

Volunteer of the Year Award

Ms. Margie Curtis, St. Jerome Catholic Church, New Port News

Page Stirrup Support Staff Award Award

Bryan Smith, Data Analyst & Technology Director, Region 1

President’s Award

Troilen Seward, Virginia Association for Adult & Continuing Education Advocate

Outstanding Student Award

Mary Porter, Portsmouth Public Schools
Adult & Continuing Education Program

Joan E.D. Kushnir Teacher of The Year  Award

Lisa Markovic
Virginia Beach Adult Learning Center English Language Learner Teacher Leader 

Outstanding Education Partner Award

Crater Regional Workforce Development Board

Conference presentations and slides recordings below

Date Time Track Presentation Name Presenter(s) Presentation File
10/22 9:15 a.m. Opening Session Keynote Address Stronger Together:
Lessons for Collaboration
through Service Learning		 Jeff Goumas Download (PDF)
10/22 10:30-11:45 am ELA Play! Activity Kits to Support Family Literacy Debbie Tuler,
Elizabeth Severson-Irby		 Download (PDF)
10/22 10:30-11:45 am Instruction An Overview of the New CASAS Assessments Janita McNemar Download (PDF)
10/22 1:45-3 pm ABE/HSE Integrating Digital Skills (and More!) with Skillbox Jeff Goumas Download (PDF)
10/22 1:45-3 pm Instruction Connecting the Dots for GED® Success Adora Beard Download (PDF)
10/22 1:45-3 pm IET Increasing Your IET Offerings – Creating and Managing New IETs. Hilary Parr Download (PDF)
10/22 1:45–3 pm Workforce/Corrections The Future of Adult Education is Career Mobility Dr. Barbara Endel Download (PDF)
10/22 1:45–3 pm Administration/Vendor Accelerating Measurable Skills Gains Utilizing the Power of Connection & Data Brittney Napolitano,
Jason Guard		 Download (PDF)
10/22 3:30-4:45 pm ABE/HSE Imagination Library-Supporting Literacy for Parents and Caregivers Christa Donohue,
Kimberly Fehrs		 Download (PDF)
10/22 3:30-4:45 pm ELA Dare to be Digitally Resilient Melinda Dart,
Rebecca Thomas,
CK Tong		 Download (PDF)
10/22 3:30–4:45 pm Instruction Introducing the All-New and NRS approved TABE 13/14 and TABE CLAS-E (ESL) Forms C & D! Shellene Swamy Download (PDF)
10/23 9:30-10:45 am ABE/HSE Reengaging Learners Who are 1 Test Away from Earning their GED® Credential Dr. Beverly Godwin,
Buffy Allgood, Amy Gaidmore, Dr. Alice Graham		 Deck 1 (PDF)
Deck 2 (PDF)
Deck 3 (PDF)
Deck 4 (PDF)
10/23 9:30–10:45 am Workforce/Corrections Building Community with Growth Mindset and Cultural Awareness Katarzyna Helbin-Travis Download (PDF)
10/23 11:15 –12:30 pm ABE/HSE NEDP for Newbies Janita McNemar Download (PDF)
10/23 11:15–12:30 pm Instruction Advancing Alphabetics: Systematic Phonics Instruction with EBRI Tools and AI Insights Mora da Silva Download (PPT)
10/23 11:15–12:30 pm IET IET Support Teachers – Dos and Don’ts for effective IET support Ashley Sexton Download (PDF)
10/23 11:15–12:30 pm Workforce/Connections Behavioral Health Interpreter Training (BHIT): A Collaborative IET Program for Immigrant & Refugee Personal & Professional Development Dilshad Charania, Joyce Jackson,
Melinda Dart,
Bo Nguyen		 Download (PDF)

Virtual Session Recordings

Session Title Presenter Length Link
Immigration 101: Basic Overview of U.S. Immigration Law Stacy Jones, Catholic Charities of Arlington, Program Director 1:11:57 View Recording
Empowering Students: One Center’s Journey towards Increasing Voice, Autonomy, and Efficacy Elizabeth Herlong 1:16:12 View Recording
Connecting the Dots for GED© Success Adora Beard, GED© Testing Service 1:15:43 View Recording
The Science of Reading for the Adult Learner Susan Grochowski 1:01:02 View Recording
A Pathway to Partnerships Debbie Hamrick 0:56:12 View Recording