ATLANTA — School is in session in Ms. Taylor's classroom, and Friday's lesson involved learning about linking verbs. It wasn't too long ago that Haiti native Gaelle Petit-Homme sat in these same seats. She's now lived in Atlanta for eight years after leaving the country in the middle of tumult and uncertainty.
"It wasn’t really safe in Haiti because it’s a political country," Petit-Homme said. "There’s violence everywhere. So many times, I almost died.”
Petit-Homme's family helped her make a home in Atlanta. She speaks four languages and said she learned English from watching "I Love Lucy" and other television shows. At age 27, Petit-Homme is now studying nursing at a technical college.
"It’s kind of challenging, but I’m hanging in there," Petit-Homme said. “I want to help people. It was always my dream, since I was a little girl, to be a nurse. Getting my GED, I was like, 'yeah, that’s what I want to do.”'
Getting her GED was tougher than she thought. But Atlanta Public Schools' Adult Education Program helped her obtain that GED. The program currently has around 360 students enrolled, according to program coordinator Dr. Monique Brown. She said the school district is pushing to increase the number to nearly 1,000 students within the next year.
"There are approximately a million people in the state of Georgia without a high school credential and approximately 400,000 of those individuals are in the Atlanta Metro and surrounding area," Brown said. “We want to even the playing ground. We’re able to assist students regardless of having a job, being a spouse, a partner, a parent, having multiple jobs or being a caregiver.”
Many of the students in the adult education are parents, retirees, non-English speakers, and some who have special education needs. Brown said the program is free, and students only have to pay for the final graduation tests like the GED or other high school graduation equivalency tests. The program also provides assistance with housing, utilities and food services like SNAP.
"It will help students become independent. It’ll help them become contributors to their communities and our society," Brown said. "It will overall help our community when it comes to the education disparities that we have. These students see themselves in a different way. They don't have to say no anymore. They have more opportunities than they ever expected to have."
The program includes an assessment test for prospective students to see what kind of education curriculum they need. Classes are held from morning to night and fall in line with Georgia's mission to make education a multi-generational effort. Brown said graduation rates were between 15 and 35 percent but noted the fluidity of the situation of each student.
Atlanta Public Schools interim superintendent Dr. Danielle Battle said graduates are better able to take care of themselves and their families.
"We know without these skills, it makes it a hard time for many of our families," Battle said. "If we meet with the parents, meet their needs, as well as the students, our families have a better chance of getting out of poverty."
For Gaelle Petit-Homme, the program meant a better chance at life with new opportunities to reach her goals.
"A lot of times I wanted to give up because I failed the tests so many times," Petit-Homme said. "I thought there was no other way around. But there’s a lot of hope in this country, especially here in the Adult Education Program. If I can do it, you can do it.”
For more information about the program, click here.