By Staff
First, for those readers who are unfamiliar with Pathfinders, we are Dowagiac Union Schools' alternative/adult education program.
We offer instruction leading to the completion of either high school diplomas or GED certificates and work with students aged 16 through adulthood.
We are beginning our eighth year operating from our location at 501 N. Paul St.
As we begin another school year, it's appropriate to talk about whom students and visitors will meet when they come to our program. It's truly a pleasure to identify and tell our readers about these fine individuals because "good people make the program!"
Jodi Badder is our building secretary (we share with Athletics). She came into our school district in 1993 and worked at Patrick Hamilton and Union High School before coming to Athletics and Alternative Education. She continues to further her education at SMC while serving our district well.
Russ Bergemann graduated from CMU and taught social studies at Central Middle School and Union High School until his retirement. Russ came into Pathfinders as an instructor when we moved into the Eliason Building. He serves on the board of directors for CASA and teaches driver education in his spare time.
Jennings Brosnan is a fulltime teacher at Union High School but also works with us as an instructor. Jennings earned a B.S. in physics from Michigan Tech and a master of arts in philosophy from WMU.
Carole Gillesby graduated from MSU and has worked within our district for many years, beginning at Sister Lakes.
She has been a major piece of the adult education program for several years and currently serves as GED testing administrator.
Barbara Groner is our newest employee. She served as a volunteer tutor for some of our students during the past school year. She will work as a GED testing administrator during the 2007-08 school year.
Barbara earned a B.A. degree from CMU and a M.S. in librarianship as well as her principalship certification from WMU.
Karen Pugh earned degrees from Augustana College and WMU before coming to work at Central Middle School.
She later moved on to SMC and served in several capacities before retiring. She then worked for Educational Talent Search and is beginning her second year as an instructor with us.
Melissa Stanger earned degrees from University of Illinois and Northern Illinois University and taught in Illinois before moving to Dowagiac.
She works with our Spanish GED program at Sister Lakes as well as our alternative and adult programs in Dowagiac.
Mary Ziemke graduated from CMU and taught in Troy, Mich., for her entire career.
After retirement, she moved to our area and has worked with us as an instructor beginning with our move to Eliason.
I am Larry Schmidt, Pathfinders Alternative/Adult Education director, and earned degrees from CMU and University of Arizona.
Born in Dowagiac, I was a 1964 graduate of Union High School and returned to teach here in 1968.
After moving to Arizona in 1970, I returned to Dowagiac in 1999 and have worked at Pathfinders since.
It is my privilege to share our programs with this group of professionals.
We share our building across the curve from Union High School with Athletics.
If you have never been in our building, we invite you to stop by.