Vocational/Occupational Education

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Programs in southern Illinois

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Vocational/occupational education is an integral component of adult education. Adult education programs are guided by Goal 2 of the Illinois State Board of Education's eight education goals. Goal 2 states: "All people of Illinois will be literate, lifelong learners who are knowledgeable about the rights and responsibilities of citizenship and able to contribute to the social and economic well-being of our diverse, global society". The ISBE is committed to ensuring that all Illinois citizens are literate, life-long learners and that all learners have an opportunity to achieve comparable academic and work force credentials regardless of age.


This identifies a need for "all youth and adults to be successful in securing and retaining gainful employment and in managing their own lives. It must be recognized that successful secondary completion inherently requires the inclusion of adequate knowledge about the entire world of work, as well as opporunity to obtain appropriate occupational preparation."1


The following programs in southern Illinois offer vocational/occupational education opportunities for their students. Please feel free to contact them directly to discuss curriculum, enrollment, completions and site visits.


To learn more about vocational/occupational education in adult education programs, contact Duane Rankin.

  • Education & Development Center, Carbondale Kendra Humphreys, Director 618-453-2331
    • Job Seeking Skills
    • Career Exploration
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  • Frontier Community College, Fairfield Bob Boyles, Director 618-842-3711
    • Vocational
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  • Kaskaskia College, Centralia Marilyn Schmidt 618-532-1981
    • Technology
    • Vocational
    •
  • Lewis and Clark Community College Valorie Harris 618-466-3411
    • Career Exploration
    • Job Seeking Skills
    • Pre-employment Skills
    • Career Development
    •
  • John A. Logan, Carterville Kathy Lively, Director 618-985-3741
    • Employability Skills
    •
  • Regional Office of Education Alternative Center, Carlinville & Jerseyville Barb Brown, Director 217-854-3913
    • Career Awareness
    • Job Seeking Skills
    •
  • Operation Rebound, Carbondale June Hickey, Director 618-549-8232
    • Job Seeking Skills
    •
  • Regional Adult Education Program, Cairo Evelyn Caldwell 618-734-4211
    • Pre-employment/Job Skills
    • Auto Mechanics
    • Building Maintenance
    • Nursing Assistant (CNA)
    • Secretarial
    • Computer Processing
    • Graphic Communications
    •
  • Rend Lake Community College, Ina Jana Groh, Director 618-437-5321
    • Vocational
    •
  • Shawnee Community College, Ullin Tim Bellamey, Director 618-634-2242
    • Vocational Skills
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  • Southeastern Illinois College, Harrisburg Jane Flannigan, Director 618-252-6376
    • Job Skills
    • Vocational Skills
    •
  • Venice Lincoln Technical Center Mary Donna Shaffner, Coordinator 618-874-7792
    • Job Seeking/Awareness Skills
    • Business Courses
    • Hospitality
    • Machine Shop
    • Nurse Assistant (CNA)
    • Welding
    •
  • Centralia Correctional Center, Centralia Mary Hodges, Director 618-533-4111
    • Vocational Graphics
    •
  • Menard Correctional Center, Menard Don Ornellas, Director 618-826-5071
    • Barbering
    • Construction Trades
    • Cooperative Work Training
    • Graphic Arts
    • Small Business Management
    •
  • Menard Psychiatric Center, Menard Ray Moore, Director 618-826-4593
    • Special needs vocational:
    • Building Maintenance
    • Cook School
    • Horticulture
    • LIving Skills
    •
  • Shawnee Correctiona Center, Vienna Brian Watson, Director 618-658-8331
    • Computer Technology
    • Diesel Mechanics
    • Graphic Arts
    • Industrial Plant Maintenance
    • Sheet Metal
    •
  • Southwestern Correctional Center, East St. Louis Barbara Conrad, Director 618-394-2200
    • Business Management
    • Computer Technology
    • Custodial Services
    •
  • Vienna Correctional Center, Vienna George Starkweather, Director 618-658-2211
    • Industrial Plant Maintenance
    • Photography
    • Auto Mechanics
    • Masonry
    • Barbering
    • Construction Occupations
    • Emergency Medical Technician/Ambulance (EMT/A)
    • Cosmetology
    • Auto Body
    • Fire Science
    • Computer Technology
    • Cooperative Work Training
    •
    Other sources of information about vocational/occupational education include the following web sites:
  • V-TECS Vocational-Technical Education Consortium of States, a leader in development of industry guides and curriculum frameworks that provide opportunities for preparation of industrial models response to local labor market concerns. Illinois is a member state with reduced prices for catalogs (includes worker tasks, tools, and/or materials; how to perform the tasks and the standards of competent task performance that are all validated by workers in the occupation), guides (includes units of instruction, learning activities, performance evaluation procedures and student information sheets) and product elements (each element includes some or all of the following: validated task lists; tool, equipment, and work aid lists; performance steps; and instructional activities, resources and worksheets for occupations).
  • ERIC Clearinghouse on Adult, Career and Vocational Education provides comprehensive information, publications and services in adult and continuing education, all aspects of career education and vocational and technical education including work force preparation.
  • National Center for Research in Vocational Education (NCRVE) is the largest center for research and development in work-related education. Its mission is to develop a new concept of vocational education as the Center works towards strengthening education to prepare all individuals for lasting and rewarding employment and lifelong learning. Their web site includes resports, newsletters, digests, a products catalog and descriptions of their programs and projects.
  • Office of Vocational and Adult Education(OVAE) a component of the U.S. Department of Education, offers funding, research, information dissemination and serves as the principal adviser to the Secretary on matters related to school to work opportunities, community colleges and vocational-technical education. Information about grants, national programs, skill standards, upcoming conferences and meetings, federal, state and local initiatives is included on their site.
  • Vocational Education Resources compiled by Dr. Steven Sorg of the University of Central Florida lists and describes sources of information on the web. Categories include curriculum resources, school to work/tech prep research, legislation, publications, career and job information.
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