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December 11, 2006

Jail term gives some opportunity for education

Pueblo County Jail inmates enthused about GED program offered through Pueblo Community College.

For some, a jail sentence may be a hidden blessing.

Jamie Decker and Tara Ortiz said they never would have pursued a General Equivalency Development diploma if they had not been locked up.

"Nope," Decker said matter-of-factly.

"I don't think I would've," added Ortiz.

Inmates at Pueblo County jail, the two enrolled in the facility's GED program, taught and tested by Pueblo Community College.

Decker, 28, recently achieved her diploma in two weeks, which left instructors abuzz about her dedication and test scores.

Ortiz, 24, has been in the class for about two months (students work at their own pace to graduate), and only needs to pass a math test for her diploma. "I only missed (passing) by 10 points."

Thanks to the class, the two inmates admitted having a different attitude and outlook on life compared with the dim view they had coming in.

In time, the friends found intelligence and spirit they never knew they possessed, buried under years of emotional scars and poor choices.

"I was on a path of destruction," said Decker, a mother of seven who dropped out of school at 15. "I needed to come to jail to help me realize the importance of education and my life. I've always doubted myself, and that's just me, but I was surprised I wasn't dumb. I'm smart."

Ortiz said she wished she made better choices as a youth, had not fallen into the wrong crowd and paid more attention to school. She dropped out in 11th grade.

Working for a GED has rekindled her motivation to pass high school.

"It's motivated me," said the mother of twin daughters and a son. "It's motivated me to do good. I don't want my kids growing up doing bad. I want to know something so I can show them something."

Serving four months for driving under the influence of alcohol, Ortiz is scheduled to be released this weekend. She said she will take the math test either at Keating Learning Center or PCC, where she wants to start classes.

Decker, who was sentenced in February for theft, is scheduled to be released in March 2007. She, too, wants to attend PCC and later to become an advocate for the homeless.

101 graduates

The jail recently eclipsed the century mark, graduating 101 inmates from the GED program, which PCC's been operating for three years.

John Rouse, coordinator of the PCC's adult education program, called that "remarkable," since the previous GED program was unsuccessful.

"In five years they didn't graduate one student," said Rouse, who did not know the previous program provider.

Jo Ann Fajardo, program director at the jail, also did not know the former provider, but said the sheriff's department wanted to make the GED class successful.

"I don't know why this wasn't successful before," she said. "I wasn't here then, but Commander (Phil) Bue and Sheriff (Dan) Corsentino said 'No, we want to make this program successful.’ ”

The jail has held graduation ceremonies, complete with cap and gowns, that inmates invited family and friends to attend.

"I saw so many people with tears in their eyes, saying thank you," Rouse said. "We get the students who have fallen through the cracks. We get them at a much better time in their lives."

Ron Warner taught three years in California and retired here after 23 years teaching third through sixth grade in Jefferson County. Unable to sell his house in Arvada for some time, Warner, who is fluent in Spanish, needed a part-time job. He is now the jail's GED instructor.

In his first semester, Warner said: "What I find is a lot of fine folks who made poor choices, and it's really inspiring to me for (inmates) to make right choices, like sign up for the GED class.

"A lot of these people had hit rock bottom, and to see them make a turnaround is really neat to be a part of."

There is a waiting list 25 names for the class, but the problem at the jail is space. The classroom can hold a maximum of 12 inmates. Those who aren't serious about the course, for example, who use class time as a vacation, are replaced with those with desire, which is the one requirement of getting into the class, Fajardo said. Students go to class two hours a day, four days a week.

Students are educated in reading, writing, mathematics, science and social studies. They take a pretest to see how much they know, and then Rouse interprets the results and designs a study program that concentrates on subjects in which they need to improve. Since most students struggle with math, a special "math clusters" program is in place.

Also, PCC now tests students at the jail and at El Pueblo Adolescent Treatment Community, as well as on sister campuses in Fremont County, Durango and Cortez, according to Ross Barnhart.

Before, the college tested only on the Orman Campus.

School behind bars

Like Ortiz and Decker, the majority of inmates currently enrolled in the GED class said they would not have pursued a diploma if they were not incarcerated.

Young and old, male and female, misdemeanors and felons, drug addicts and alcoholics, Warner's class is small, but varied. There is even a brother and sister in the class.

One man is a carpenter, another worked in the fields. Some students were thieves or just lived by way of the street.

Before class one day last week, Warner engaged in discussion with a male student who said he wants to have his own landscaping/sprinkling system business.

The student rattled off degrees and angles for a pipe system, discussed air pressure and the mandatory depth a system needs to be buried.

Achieving a GED is at least one tool that can help inmates land a job once free. Still, Warner said more programs are needed to help inmates find jobs once released.

"It concerns me that so many of you keep coming back," he told the class.

One student, the tallest in the class, said: "I'm a felon. A lot of people aren't going to hire me. I got into this to get my GED. I have a job lined up but I want a better job. I want to better myself.

"I see so many people just sitting around doing nothing. I wish more people would get involved in the class," Ortiz said, who often studies with Decker.

"It was cool because the guards would help us with our homework," Decker said. "They wanted to help us and were excited we were going for our GED. Ever since I came to jail I've had so many good things happen.

"I'm in jail and I'm one of the luckiest girls in the world."

By NICK BONHAM
THE PUEBLO CHIEFTAIN

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