Glades Family Education

The Glades Family Education Program has served hundreds of adults and their preschool children in Belle Glade, South Bay and Pahokee for 17 years. They practice conversational English while striving to improve their reading, writing, literacy and life skills. At the same time the Early Childhood Program teachers instruct the preschool children of the adult students. The primary focus of the program is family education with an emphasis on changing lives by educating the whole family.

2009-2010 Program Outcomes:

  • 117 adults and 18 preschool children were served.
  • 80% of the adult students pre- and post-tested demonstrated learning gains in reading and language skills.
  • All of the children made age appropriate gains in their school readiness.

PROGRAM IMPACT

Petite, dark-eyed Hannia is enrolled in the Early Childhood Program at Glades Family Education Program in Belle Glade and will graduate this spring. Her mother, Reyna Velasquez, relates that her three-year-old daughter couldn’t speak any English when she entered the children’s program. Now Hannia can speak English, knows numbers, shapes, colors and recognizes sight words.

While preschooler Hannia prepares for success in kindergarten, her mother, Reyna, studies to improve her English language skills. Reyna exclaims, "It is wonderful to attend the program with my daughter. I’m really excited about the school!" She says that now she can help her children with their homework and can communicate with her children’s teachers without a translator. She beamed when she said that she felt very proud when she was promoted to a higher level class.

Reyna keeps a very busy schedule with her job, school, three children, husband and home responsibilities. But she has set her goals and someday would like to teach preschool. With a determined sparkle in her eyes, Reyna said that her studies are difficult but not impossible!

 

Address: 981 S.E. 1st Street, Belle Glade, 33430