CMF teachers inspire interest in education

March 6, 2024

Cheryl Vito, Post Secondary and Continuing Education coordinator, plays a card game with students as a way to help spark more interest in education at CMF.

The California Medical Facility (CMF) Mountain Oaks Adult Education Center is using innovating approaches to spark interest in education.

Principal Bowman and Assistant Principal Vang encourage staff and students to create an environment full of learning, laughter, and curiosity. It has become an environment where students feel safe making mistakes, asking questions, and speaking up.

To further this approach, CMF has created monthly Education Stations. The stations help engage student interest and connect teachers with potential students, all while creating a sense of community across the institution.

Education Stations spark interest for students

(See the video by TV Specialist Richard Tan. Story continues below.)

The school invites all education and institution staff to offer their expertise and unique skills. Using this method means education stations allow for enrichment opportunities for all students.

The stations offer engaging activities such as writing, reading, history, art, math, brain games, music, and worldwide traditions.

CMF students laugh, helping spark interest in education through art, games, and activities. — CMF Education Stations spark interest in education through unique activities and games.

Walking through CMF education, teachers and students can be found laughing, learning, and working together. This environment makes others curious as to what is happening.

Adult Basic Education III Teacher Patricia Ashe is working with “The Beat Within.” Every two weeks, the organization sends writing topics for the students.

At her station, Ashe provides the topic, allows students to discuss, and then they write. After the allotted writing time, students then share their work.

When done with the writing portion, they create art based on the topic.

With so many outlets for learning, students say they enjoy the collaboration.

“I have been incarcerated for 21 years and have never seen anything like this in any of the education departments,” said one of the students. “It makes me be more open minded (so) I can create my own ideas. They have made it about us as students. I feel like a student and not like I am incarcerated.”

The students said they look forward to Education Stations because they offer something different.

Not only do the stations provide something different for students, but also the teachers.

Giving back through education

“We are giving back. It is not about us, it is about giving back to our community,” said Law Librarian C. Roi.

According to organizers, when students see teachers working together, they are more apt to collaborate with fellow students and enjoy attending school.

Story written by Dawn Epps, Teacher
Submitted by Lt. Priscilla Gonzalez
California Medical Facility

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