James Darden, Director of Adult Education at Shawnee Community College
Finding our way to Adult Education is rarely a direct course. Often the road to the enterprise is filled with rich human experiences that make our profession a passion and not just a job. James Darden’s story is a perfect example of this career evolution. He is a gardener, avid estate sale participant, sportsman and of course adult educator. He and his wife Beth are incredibly proud of their two sons, James Andrew and Daniel. They enjoy the peace and nature of their southern Illinois “farmette.” The relaxed atmosphere of his home is consistent with his congenial and warm personality. It is very apparent that “life-long learning” is a core value in the family.
James grew up in Arkansas. He attended Central Christian University receiving his Bachelor of Science degree. Initially he was interested in pursuing a degree in Music but soon found that an “interest” is not necessarily a career path. He always saw himself being a teacher and so he soon realized that his understanding and skills in science would be a path to classroom work. This would be his foundation for his first job in education as a teacher at a private school in Arkansas.
In 1982 James moved to Illinois accepting a position of Principle/Supervisor at a private school in West Frankfort, Illinois. There he worked very closely with students and teachers. Many of the students attending the school had special learning needs. Additionally, many of the students had behavioral issues that required individual learning plans. These challenges required James, as supervisor, to work closely with the teaching staff on new and responsive individual curriculums. James feels that during these thirteen years of private education he discovered an important foundation for his next career path in adult education.
James applied for the position of Alternative Education Coordinator at Shawnee Community College in 1995. The college liked his extensive background in curriculum development, special needs training and administration. Along with his teaching experience, this made him a perfect fit. James and family came to Illinois filled with enthusiasm which continues to be a big part of his success. He then decided to pursue an advanced degree in Educational Administration in 1995. Doing the right thing seems to be a source of energy and it is catching.
James feels that the biggest challenge he met in his transition to the college setting was learning the policies and procedures of the institution. He is quick to suggest for any new administrator that learning the policy and procedures is the key to success. “Get out that manual….read it…ask questions…find people that can mentor or guide you.” He soon was asked to assume the GED Supervisor role and apply his work and experience to yet another group of clients. He has seen the fruits of his team’s success with 37% of his alternative education students go on to college. James is quick to give credit to his staff and emphasizes that Shawnee Community College Adult Education is a “team effort.” James became the Adult Education Director in 2001.
His institution is located in a rural area with no public transportation. This creates unique challenges for delivery of services. James jokingly says: “There are more deer in our service area than people!” Because of the population distribution and large territory there are many challenges to be faced. Along with delivery of services to his clients, marketing of services can be a problem. He quickly realized that overcoming the barriers in a rural area was critical to his program’s success.
James feels that analyzing the resources available was the first step. “Discover the institutional resources first, and then do the foot work in the field. Find all of the agencies that meet and serve the common client pool.” These were his first suggestions. James met with workforce development agencies, shelters, DHS and service groups. He and his staff gave countless speeches and presentations to these groups, visited block parties, and did leg work in their efforts to advertise and market their service. Building these relationships was emphasized and considered vital to the success of Shawnee Community College Adult Education. James stresses this!
As a result of this relationship building, their program receives regular donations from the many service groups in his area. In addition, his program receives regular newspaper coverage and Public Service Announcements from the media. Their program is also discussed on local radio and their program has placed more than 10,000 advertisements in area restaurants resulting in countless marketing successes. Initially, there was a lot of work to be done, but the fruits of those efforts are ongoing.
James believes that building good relationships within the local institution has also been very important to their program’s success. James meets with the College Board and makes regular reports. These reports keep the adult education agenda on the table and have been vital to consciousness raising among many. James is quick to say, “Keep your board informed.” He also firmly believes that having an open and good relationship with your college president is critical. Whether it’s the five minute conversation in the hall or a formal meeting, this open communication and awareness can and does bring results.
When asked about how programs could enhance their marketing opportunities, he first mentioned the GED marketing program and Public Service Announcements that had already been created. He stressed that they were very professional and are a great resource. James also emphasizes the utilization of ICCB. Major corporations like McDonalds, Toyota and Dollar General have all demonstrated support for the literacy movement. By using the clout and communication strengths of ICCB, programs could use these major organizations as a secure marketing avenue for adult education. Another collaborative suggestion for programs and ICCB would be regular news articles sent to every newspaper in the state showcasing some aspect of adult literacy. He feels that the Community College Board’s reputation will have clout and influence in getting many articles printed throughout the state. This awareness campaign would have far reaching impact on local programs for their local efforts.
James feels that being an adult educator is a passion not a job. This passion and enthusiasm is apparent in all that he does. Building relationships, talking to colleagues, pondering issues and finding solutions are all parts to his continuous improvement plan. His final tip to all new administrators is: “Read your policy manual, ask questions and make sure you are in a continuous improvement mindset.” James Darden is a real asset to the enterprise of Illinois Adult Education. His door is always open and he is always willing to help another adult educator.
