We're back! And we are pleased to be joined by Jennifer Schroeder, the newly installed Director of Adult Education for South Arkansas Community College. Listen in as we find out about her background, what attracted her to adult education and brought her and her family to Arkansas from Orange Beach, Alabama, and how to tell good seafood from bad. Plus, stick around afterward for some updates and announcements for upcoming events in AdultEdLand. Get into it!

In this episode, we discuss what exactly WAGE is, how it has evolved over the years, how the new WAGE program differs from previous iterations, and how it is set up to benefit students and programs. We also dig even deeper with specific questions surrounding WAGE™, many of which are director-driven. Plus, we find out a little bit about LaJuana, and what she did before joining the team in Adult Education.

As many of you know, Southeast PA - and friend of the pod - Jana Jenkins, has moved on to bigger and better things. But we couldn't let her leave without a proper Effective & Efficient sendoff! This week we reminisce with Jana about her time in adult ed, chat with her about what she will miss, and more.


If you have an Arkansas Adult Education story to share with us - whether it's of a student, a teacher, or just something great going on at a program, we want to hear about it! Reach out to Dan at daniel.bingaman@arkansas.gov or Jon at Jon.Lee@arkansas.gov, and your story might be featured on a future episode of the podcast.

The 2021 COABE (virtual) Conference is upon us! And none other than the Chief Executive Officer of COABE, Sharon Bonney, is joining us this week to mark the occasion and preview the event. Sharon was kind enough to stop by to discuss all of the different initiatives and advocacy campaigns that the Coalition on Adult Basic Education is spearheading, what it was like having to pull the brakes and re-configure a conference the size of COABE at the last minute due to COVID, the direction she sees adult education moving across the country, and so much more (31:40). But first, Jana Jenkins drops in to tell us a little bit about what she has planned for the upcoming conference, and what skills and information participants can look forward to walking away with (3:55). You don't want to miss it!

For more information on COABE, please visit https://coabe.org

This week we're sitting down with two of our newest adult education program directors, Julie Gordon of UA - Rich Mountain, and Becky Warren of the U of A Community College at Batesville to get to know them a little better, find out how adult ed has been treating them so far, and hopefully get them to open up and overcome some of their shyness.

We cover a lot of ground in this rollicking episode, so strap in!

For all your pig, goat, and other exclusive farm animal pic needs, make sure to check out @stellaroseandpearl on Instagram.

Happy Festivus, Glad tidings, Merry Christmas, and Happy Holidays from your friends at Effective & Efficient! This week, we're coming at you with a special Christmas-themed episode, just for your listening pleasure as you put the finishing touches on your holiday preparation. Jon and Dan each share the top 3 things that define the holiday season for them, pass along some favorite seasonal recipes, and give the final word on whether Die Hard is a Christmas Movie.

We'll be back next week with a special Year-in-Review episode, but in the meantime, hit up Albritton Pecans for some of their sweet, sweet drupes (look it up). They don't pay us to tell you about them, I just really think you should buy their pecans.
https://www.albrittonpecans.com/

It's Thanksgiving! In this bonus episode, Dan and Jon discuss their plans for the upcoming holiday, their favorite Thanksgiving traditions (and favorite foods), and air their grievances with fall weather in Arkansas.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

This week we're featuring another student success story in the person of Betty Krumwiede, a recent GED grad turned employee of Northark Community College in Harrison, Arkansas. Dan talks to Betty about what led her to adult ed, struggles she encountered, and people that helped along the way (00:12:53). Following that, we turn to a conversation with Chris Adams, Betty's teacher at Northark, to discuss working with Betty, and what he loves about teaching adult education (00:38:54). But first, after a longer-than-usual recording hiatus, Dan and Jon catch up a bit to discuss a potential new venture (00:01:00), and Jon reveals a shocking oversight in his movie-watching history. Get after it!

Music on this week's show by Brother and the Hayes. Check them out at the links below!
http://www.brotherandthehayes.com/
https://www.facebook.com/brotherandthehayes/
https://www.instagram.com/brotherandthehayes
https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/brother-and-the-hayes/1263294710