American and Hialeah-Miami Lakes Adult Education centers recently celebrated their accomplishments during a graduation ceremony, where Miami-Dade County School Board Chair Perla Tabares-Hantman and Assistant Superintendent for School Operations Luis Diaz showed their admiration and support for the graduates.
The centers also offer educational opportunities for students from American, Goleman, Carol City, Norland, Jose Marti MAST and 14 other locations serving senior learners and adults with disabilities across Hialeah and Miami Lakes.
Some of the graduating students that evening were the Success Management Academy (SMA) students from HML Adult Education Center and Jose Martinez MAST SMA.
The group represents a program of choice for immigrants between the ages of 16-18.
The students receive intensive English classes and preparation to earn their high school equivalency diploma.
In addition, the SMA program provides them with career pathway orientations preparing them for transition to higher education as well as assimilation and acculturation to this country.
Hantman is a strong support of educational opportunities for all students and has always been receptive to new programs that will assist in furthering accessibility of these opportunities.
Dr. David Bennett, a dentist and Miami Lakes community activist, was the keynote speaker for the graduation ceremony, and he offered scholarships to four SMA graduates.
“This is what we work for, why we became educators and to see so many graduates along with so many strong supporters made this an extremely special moment to remember, the graduating class of 2018,” said HML Adult principal Alexis Cazanas.