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Online program offers second chance for diploma
Kimberlee Blethen got a second chance that could potentially affect her future.
During their May 14 meeting, the USD 234 Board of Education, Curriculum Director Nicki Traul and district staff recognized Blethen, who recently completed the district’s virtual adult education program to earn her high school diploma. Blethen is the first adult education graduate who participated in the virtual program.
At the meeting, Traul said Blethen dealt with some family issues while attempting to earn her diploma, “but she stuck with the program and has officially graduated.”
Blethen and some of her family members were present at the board meeting. She received congratulations and applause from the board and others in attendance.
“Awesome job,” board member Jordan Witt said.
Later in the meeting, Witt said the diploma presentation was “one of the coolest things I’ve seen at a board meeting.”
In an interview with the Tribune, Blethen said her dad died in December 2017 while she was attempting to earn her diploma, and she began to wonder if she would be able to finish what she started.
“At first, when I was doing the schooling, my dad passed away … and honestly I was like ‘I’m not gonna get this done.’ Then I was like ‘Wow, this is real. I’m actually doing this. I thought I wasn’t gonna finish in time. I’m so glad it’s over. It was a rough time.”
Blethen, 19, dropped out of high school when she was 17 to help her mother take care of her ailing dad. Blethen said she also dealt with some health issues of her own.
“I was juggling helping my mom take care of my dad, with class, and that was one reason I stopped going to school. My dad was really bad health-wise,” she said. “Then the school offered me the online learning and I was grateful. They didn’t have to do that and it gave me another chance.”
In the adult education program, students have some flexbility and can do coursework on their own time. The program offers opportunities for students to earn their general equivalency diploma or normal high school diploma outside of a traditional classroom.
“The district has had the program a couple of years,” Traul said. “One of the reasons we chose to do the adult program outside of normal K-12 students is we had already purchased it and it was an opportunity to give back to the community.
“We partner with Fort Scott Community College on our adult ed. Students have options. They can get their GED or go through the virtual high school program.”
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