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Bush appoints former migrant worker
Acting Secretary for Vocational and Adult Education
Oct 4, 2005
by Camille Solberg
http://www.wisgop.org/site/Viewer.aspx?iid=3858&mname=Article&rpid=902
Mr. Beto Gonzalez, a Mexican son of farm workers was recently appointed
to the position of Acting Secretary for the Office of Vocational and Adult
Education at the U.S. Department of Education. Early in his childhood Mr.
Gonzalez had to constantly travel and work to help support his family. "As a
migrant farm worker and student I was never able to stay more than one school
year in one school without having to migrate to another region of the United
States," stated Gonzalez. His mentors had a big role to play in the life of this
migrant worker. Teachers, coaches and particularly his high school principal
encouraged Gonzalez to pursue his dreams. Because of this his heart was set to
pursue a career in education.
Gonzalez became a high school teacher and later assistant principal at a Middle
School and High School levels. As he began his doctorial degree he started
teaching at the Graduate School of Education at Fresno Pacific University in
California. "That compelled me to pursue a career in higher education," Gonzalez
shared. The President of the University asked him to consider applying for the
deanship (Dean of Student Services) position. He was eventually given the
position by the President and the board. Gonzalez was teaching post secondary
education at the same time he was a Post Secondary Education Administrator at
Bakersfield College.
But what led Mr. Gonzalez into the federal government was the opportunity to
come and be a part of the President's administration. "I was invited by the
Presidential Personnel Office (PPO) for an interview to see if I would consider
working for the administration. I saw this as an opportunity to be able to
effectuate policy at the national level," stated Gonzalez. Before this position
the Deputy Assistant Secretary worked as a special assistant in the Office of
Public Affairs at the U.S. Department of Labor. He was responsible for
coordinating Hispanic outreach and media relations.
"I learned about federal government and how it functions. I was the Hispanic
spokesperson for the Department of Labor. I was able to propagate the
Secretary's agenda as well as the President's agenda on labor issues across the
nation," he said.
US Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings said the following about Gonzalezs
new role, "We are looking forward to having someone with Beto's expertise on
board," said Spellings. "His work with minority high school and college students
will greatly enhance our efforts to continue closing the achievement gap through
No Child Left Behind reforms and, especially, to stem the dropout rate that has
been prevalent among our Hispanic students for the last several decades."
"Beto will focus on aligning the work of OVAE's divisions of career and
technical education, community colleges and adult education with the needs of
the field," said Susan Sclafani, the former director of OVEA. "His background in
teaching Spanish and English as a second language (ESL) in high schools, as well
as ESL in adult education, combined with his experience at the community college
level give him a unique perspective on the complex issues facing educators
across the spectrum. He will be a great asset as we work to improve transitions
along the career pathways for students of all ages."
At a personal level Mr. Gonzalez feels that his new role at the Department of
Education reminds him of his passion for education. "As I travel around the
nation, I identify readily with the educational needs of those communities as a
former educator," shared Gonzalez. According to Gonzalez there is still a need
for at risk students across the nation to have full access to the curriculum, K
thru 16. He feels that the way that they can insure access to the entire
curriculum is to make sure that elementary and secondary students are reading up
to grade level. Also re-entry students like young ladies that became pregnant
and drop out or young men that had to work to support the family or others have
dropped out because they were unsuccessful. These students need to have
appropriate programs. The chances of an at risk student graduating are really
lessened by their lack of internal and external support in the homes as well as
schools.
"My message to Hispanic students from Wisconsin specifically is one that is
heart-felt. I wholeheartedly impart towards them the fact that in this country
as long as you do your homework you can become anything you want! Nothing can
hold them back from someday enrolling in a school of medicine, school of
engineering, school of education to someday earn a college or graduate degree.
No one can hold them back in this country, not even their lack of financial
assistance," added Gonzalez. As a class 1-A migrant education student he said
that it did not get anymore migrant than his life. " If these students do their
homework they will be more than able to enroll in a college of their
choice,especially community colleges because they are open access institutions
and from here they can really choose their career pathway. There are programs
out there, even private funders or associations, that will help anyone who
really has proven that they are serious about getting an education," continued
Gonzalez.
Adult education is another area Beto Gonzalez will be promoting. He feels that
the most important area in which adult learners need to improve is in their
reading abilities. Most adult students are parents. "The greatest academic
challenge that faces our nation is literacy. Parents can't contribute as much if
they themselves can't read. So parents can't apply for jobs if their reading
levels are not there. Adult literacy is as much of the root of the problem as
our childrens literacy," stated Gonzalez.
The Acting Secretary encourages adults to enroll at adult schools which are
normally part of their high school districts. These offer not only GED courses
but also focus on language learning in addition to vocational training. There
are many certificates that can be earned at adult schools. "I would encourage
them to look into their local community colleges which are open access and would
give the access to the curriculum. Most of these programs are catered to
constituents that work full time," said Gonzalez.
In his new role Gonzalez would like to bring his experience as a college
practitioner and afford leadership towards the promotion and identification and
dissemination of effective practices. He would like to identify which colleges
are doing things right, that are making a difference in our communities. He does
not want to re-invent the wheel in any discipline but identify programs on
colleges that are doing things the right way that are attuned with the specific
needs of the students and meeting those needs.
To learn more about OVAE's funtion visit
www.ed.gov also
www.yosipuedo.gov and
www.govbenefits.gov
Solberg is a nationally published journalist and columnist. She is based out of
New London, Wisconsin
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Republican
National Hispanic Assembly