Davis residents further learning through adult school
A bit of luck and a life-changing event led Christina and Michael Plesha to discover a valuable community enrichment resource in their own backyard. Michael’s pharmaceutical company, headquartered in a German-speaking region of Switzerland, relocated him to Europe for one year. About this same time, Christina received a mailer from the Davis Adult School and was thrilled to see the many language classes the school offered.
“I was excited to brush up on my French and begin taking German for the first time,” says Christina. “The schedule at the adult school was more convenient than the schedule at the community college and the variety of the classes offered is really impressive.” Once back from Europe, Christina resumed taking French and German at the school — and she can’t wait to try Spanish. This year, she added a bike repair class to the mix.
“The teachers at the school are top notch,” says Christina. “I have no mechanical experience, but in the bike repair class everyone is allowed to work at their own pace. There are no grades and no pressure.” The Davis Adult School has been in place for more than 50 years and the school offers both state-approved courses and community-interest courses. Aside from community enrichment programs, the school offers a full range of other programs — from English as a Second Language (ESL) programs to high school and GED programs to career and technical education (CTE) programs. Laurel Clumpner, who has been the principal at the school for approximately nine years, says the fees are modest compared to similar programs in the area. Clumpner works to have a fresh collection of options for students each year.
“I really try to keep my finger on the pulse of what the students want,” says Clumpner. “I look at what is trending in education and where interest lies in the community beyond the classroom.”
The Pleshas appreciate her efforts — and the offerings at the school appeal to more than adventurous young couples. Many adults in their 60s and 70s also find the adult school to be a valuable resource. Francis Resta, for example, has taken 12 different classes at the Davis school since 2005. His favorite class is Italian. “It is a beautiful language and the teacher is really excellent,” says Resta. “She immerses us in the language and we are able to do projects and exercises with partners. It’s a lot of fun.”
Like the Pleshas, Resta recommends people try the adult school for themselves. “The classes are small, the homework load is reasonable and you get out of it what you are willing and able to put in,” said Resta. “You really can’t go wrong.”
Christina would love to see more people take advantage of the community enrichment many other classes offered at the school. With more students in attendance, the school could afford to offer even more classes in the future.
“The hardest part is finding time for all of the classes you want to take,” she says. “I really encourage people to find a class that they have always wanted to try and then just take it. After all, the best way to keep your mind active is to continue learning.”
For more information, go to www.capitaladulted.org.
Written by Amanda Caraway
| Regions | Classes |
|---|---|
| Northern California | Enrichment |
