In the public eye: Lifetime learning empowering for Windham/Raymond Adult Education Enrichment Program coordinator

Editor’s note: This is another in an ongoing series of Windham and Raymond town employee profiles.

By Ed Pierce

No two days are ever the same for RSU 14’s Enrichment Program/Marketing Coordinator Susan Garvin Colley and that’s exactly what she likes the most about her work.

RSU 14's Enrichment Program/Marketing Coordinator is
Susan Garvin Colley, who has worked for the district
since September 2022. SUBMITTED PHOTO

Colley has been with RSU 14 since September 2022 and is responsible for coordinating all aspects of the Windham/Raymond Adult Education (WRAE) Enrichment Program including creating classes, hiring contracted instructors, scheduling dates, times, and locations of classes offered. She also edits course descriptions for clear content and inclusion in WRAE’s twice-annual printed publications and creates print catalogs and digital media for promotion to the public.

It’s no small task as WRAE currently offers about 600 individual sessions of classes each year.

“I also am responsible for marketing aspects of Windham Raymond Adult Education as a whole, to include our academic learning including HiSET, high school completion, and English Language Learning, and career and college planning programming, as well as our active enrichment program,” Colley said.

According to Colley, she loves embracing the creativity of her work.

“I get to work with amazing, creative teachers, a highly devoted and inspired staff at WRAE, and I get to interact with folks in these two communities and beyond about the many ways we can bring enrichment opportunities to their lives,” she said. “It is especially rewarding when a community member brings the challenge of an idea for a class to us. Finding ways to make that class happen is a joy.”

She’s found that the greatest challenge in her duties is finding available space to offer classes.

“The WRAE building has two decent-sized classrooms that are almost always occupied with classes morning, afternoon, and evening. Because of our small night-time staff, we try to keep as many of our evening classes right on campus so that we can support our teachers and students. The lack of gym space on campus is by far the greatest challenge. We have so many folks who want to offer and/or attend recreational, exercise and other classes that require a larger, gym-type space and we have been unable to regularly schedule the gyms on campus. We’re very grateful to Windham Parks & Recreation for the gym time they allow us at the Town Hall for our ongoing Line Dance classes and to the North Windham Union Church, UCC for working with us to provide classes in both Yoga and Cardio Exercise.”

One of the biggest misconceptions people may have about her work with WRAE is the type and amount of programming that they offer, Colley said.

“We’ve almost doubled our offerings in the past couple of years and have added many high-quality certificate programs in a variety of high demand business topics,” she said. “The other big misconception about WRAE is that WRAE classes are only available to residents of Windham and Raymond. Nothing could be further from the truth. Any adult from anywhere can register and enjoy classes at WRAE. The more, the merrier.”

Born in Sanford and living most of her life in Springvale, Colley attended Bay Path College in Springfield, Massachusetts, studying Business with a focus on tourism and travel planning. After earning her degree, she returned to Southern Maine.

“After a few experiments with customer service and financial jobs, I stumbled across adult education and began my joyful participation as an enrichment instructor for MSAD #57 at Massabesic Adult and Community Education in Waterboro,” Colley said. “I took on a more permanent role as their evening receptionist, became involved in the creation of the enrichment calendar, and learned how to create and publish the catalogs, and the rest is history.”

When the Enrichment Coordinator position opened at RSU 14, Colleye she was drawn to apply because she had been very fortunate to work with WRAE’s Director Tom Nash twice before in her career.

“We both ‘got our start’ in adult education at MSAD #57, and years later worked together at Sanford Community Adult Education,” she said. “I know and appreciate Tom’s commitment to adult education, his creativity, and his support of his staff, and I was very excited at the prospect of partnering with him again with enrichment programming. We’ve always been a good team.”

Of everything she’s learned since joining RSU 14, Colleye said she finds the support of the RSU 14 Administration to be incredibly positive and supportive in providing Lifelong Learning programming including academic instruction, career training, self-help topics, recreational activities, and general fun to residents.

“This is a very diverse and committed community, hard-working and supportive of each other,” Colley said. “We have great resources and opportunities and it’s empowering to be part of it.” <