Stretching in new direction: Adult education at GLTS

By Bethany Bray
Staff Writer

November 11, 2009 05:55 am

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Want to learn to knit, fix your car, decorate a cake, speak Spanish, do CPR or take digital photos? Look no further than Greater Lawrence Technical School.

The River Road high school has launched an adult education program this fall, and evening classes on everything from plumbing to jewelry making are offered. As a technical school, GLTS has specialized facilities and equipment for teaching medical, automotive, cooking, cosmetology and other trades.

"In this economy, especially, there are people who are out of work and need additional skills and training. We have so many career areas here, equipment and programs available, it seems like a natural for us to offer this," said GLTS Superintendent-Director Judy Ann DeLucia. "The timing is perfect right now to offer job training at a reasonable rate, and it's something that can be offered to people right here in their neighborhood."

Night classes, taught by both GLTS staff and instructors hired from outside the school, began in September. A GED prep class is also available and is one of the few in the area offered in the evening, said Kathie Howe, GLTS adult education director. The idea is to offer something for everyone, she said, from mothers to senior citizens to people switching careers.

The program is "just getting our feet wet" this fall, and hopes to expand, said Howe.

Because Howe was hired in August, just a month before classes started, advertising was minimal and only five classes received enough response to get off the ground.

But a second semester begins Feb. 1, with sign-ups next month. More advertising and mailings will go out soon, and gift certificates will be available for the holidays, said Howe.

They hope to offer more job training, such as certification programs in pharmacy, electrical work and cosmetology.

"We have a beautiful facility here, and it should really be used by the community more," said Howe. "We have a lot to offer in terms of training and enrichment."

Enrollment is open to adults; residents of towns other than Andover, Lawrence, Methuen and North Andover pay an extra $10 per course. Seniors (over the age of 60) receive a 10-percent discount.

GLTS had a night school program 15 or 20 years ago, said Howe.

DeLucia said the idea to revive a night school program came from breakfast meetings she has with town managers of the four communities GLTS serves: Andover, North Andover, Lawrence and Methuen.

"If people could just come and see what we have here, a state-of-the art building that offers a tremendous amount of career areas that I don't think people are aware of," said DeLucia. "We have bio-tech, medical, pre-engineering. Our students go to four-year colleges and have half of their freshman year done ... It's more than a trade school."

For more details on GLTS adult education programs, call the school at 978-686-0194 or visit www.glts.tec.ma.us and click on "adult education" on the left side of the page.

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