In
June 2006, Hacienda La Puente Adult
Education celebrated 50 years of
providing excellent quality educational
opportunities to the residents of
La Puente,
City of
Industry and
Hacienda Heights and the
San Gabriel
Valley area of
Los Angeles
County.
Having
begun as a small adult school program
in 1956, HLPAE Career and Technology
Programs now has classes on 3 campuses
and offers over 20 different career
path vocational programs to it’s
more than 7400 students enrolled
every year.
HLPAE
prides itself in offering high-quality,
low cost educational opportunities
for those looking for new careers
or to update current skills.
HLPAE
vocational training programs include
welding, alternative fuels auto
mechanics, major appliance repair,
medical assisting, word processing,
medical billing and coding, electronics
repair, computer repair and networking,
CNC machinist, child care provider,
business careers, LVN and CNA just
to name a few.
Most
programs offer open enrolment, allowing
the students to begin classes at
their convenience.
HLPAE has one of the only public
school funded Optical Technician
Program and Animal Grooming Program
in the country.
HLPAE
has identified the need for additional
educational opportunities for many
students, especially those who are
English as a Second Language learners
and has created the
Vocational
Academic
Skills & Technology
Center, (VAST)
a program unique in adult education.
VAST assists students with
testing, vocational English skills,
tutoring, study skills and employability.
Currently, approximately
200 students are served by VAST
on a daily basis.
Also,
HLPAE offers free child care during
class times for the children of
adult education students on 2 of
its campuses, allowing many parents
who cannot afford childcare the
opportunity to attend classes.
Recently,
Gerardo Quinones, a former GED student
who also completed the HLPAE Medical
Assisting Program was named as a
recipient of the California Adult
Education Students Success Award.
Gerardo credits his instructor,
Maureen Vena, LVN with
encouraging him everyday to not
settle for a low paying job and
to take pride in his work.
She encouraged him to apply
for a job with the
County of
Los Angeles,
where he is now working, He told
Ms. Vena “my life has always been
a scary rollercoaster ride.
Now the rollercoaster is
a great ride, with me at the controls.
I thank the
Adult
School for switching
the tracks.”
HLPAE
has many students who have gone
on to open their own businesses.
Many students have continued on
with their education, with one becoming
a dentist, another has become an
optician and a former student,
Gloria Schuster,
is now Lead Teacher of the Cosmetology
Department.
The
staff at HLPAE takes great interest
and pride
in seeing their students
succeed and make positive changes
in their lives and the lives of
their families,
always encouraging them to
dream big and to work hard to make
those dreams come true.
The staff also works hard
to see that their students get the
best education available and the
tools necessary to make their careers
successful.
Through the HLPAE Workforce Office
students are offered assistance
with financial aid, skills assessment,
GAIN Work Experience, Senior Training
Services, Employment Services and
Job Seeker Services. They can utilize
computers, fax and telephone to
contact employers and apply for
jobs.
For additional information regarding
Hacienda La Puente check out their
web site at
http://www.hlpae.org/ or call
626 934-4800.
