Local inmates get diplomas that open doors

The May graduating class at Nelson Coleman Correctional Facility in Killona.

Inmates at Nelson Coleman Correctional Center who receive a high school equivalency diploma get a special visit with family. This is often the first time in years they’ve seen them in person.

“The visit with their families is special,” said David Weber, teacher and coordinator of the Adult Education Program at Nelson Coleman. “Up until the graduation ceremony, family visits are generally held on site through a camera and screen monitor. The visit that they receive for graduating is an opportunity for them to spend time with their families in the same room, right next to one another. For many of my students, it has been years since they have gotten this opportunity, and it is a very powerful experience. Family members will walk up to me in tears of joy and gratitude for having helped their loved ones obtain an education. The graduation ceremony is a monumental experience for both the students and their families.”

On May 19, inmates received their diplomas. Both Sheriff Greg Champagne and Superintendent Felecia Gomez-Walker were there to praise their success.

Weber said the program is designed to provide a substantial source of rehabilitation.

“We want to make sure their time spent while in our facility leads to productivity and success upon release,” he said. “Too often, you hear about prison being a revolving door to correction. The sheriff is huge on providing rehabilitative programs and making sure these people have opportunities to better themselves and succeed when they get on the outside. Additionally, many individuals are eligible for time off of their sentences upon completion of the programs we offer.”

Since the correctional center’s opening in 2001, Champagne has supported upgrading Adult Education. Started with a teacher’s aide providing tutoring on the third floor of the old jail in the St. Charles Parish Courthouse, the program now has Weber as a full-time teacher, a teacher’s aide, and test specialists to administer the test periodically to inmates deemed ready to take it.

The Adult Education faculty are supplied by the school system, and the Sheriff’s Office covers the majority of all necessary funding.

Inmates who complete the voluntary program get a high school diploma. Champagne estimated about 300 inmates have completed or started the program since it began nearly 18 years ago.

They learn at their own pace with the help of the instructor and aide. They have homework assignments just like any student, and when they reach certain benchmarks, they’re eligible to take the standardized test.

Weber said those standards are becoming more rigorous every year.

“Most of my students make an effort to complete the program during their stay, but sometimes they are released or transferred prior to completion,” he said. ”My students may feel a sense of nervousness or uncertainty when they begin the program; however, as they start noticing evidence of progress, they get extremely motivated and determined to push themselves. They remain committed to their studies so that that they can secure employment upon release, continue their education, and be positive role models for their children and family members.”

If they pass, they get their diploma.

“I try to push them like a drill sergeant … anything I can do to help them make that paradigm shift,” Weber said.

A major driver for providing the program is inmates who get a high school education are less likely to return to jail.

“I have always believed that education is a fundamental and necessary key to success in our society,” Champagne said. “Just the sense of accomplishment that they feel having earned a high school diploma is a big boost to their self esteem. Sadly, many of these people have only been told over time that they are failures. I speak to every graduating class along with the superintendent of schools.

[pullquote]“The sheriff is huge on programming and making sure these people have opportunities to better themselves and succeed when they get on the outside.”   — David Weber[/pullquote]

“Our theme is almost always that if they can accomplish this while in jail, there is no reason why they can’t be successful when they are released back into society.”

Weber added, “My students tell me that they often say they don’t just want to be another statistic and they prove it by working their butts off.”

The sheriff agreed.

“I am very proud of the number of inmates that have been able to accomplish this,” he said. “I have always believed that we need to do everything we can to send inmates back to society better than they were when they entered the system. I think in many cases we are doing just that.”

Adult Education

  • Adult Education has been available at Nelson Coleman Correctional Center since it’s opening in 2001 and has been upgraded under Sheriff Greg Champagne.
  • An estimated 300 inmates have graduated from the program in the last 18 years.
  • About 15 inmates graduated in the program this year.

 

2 Comments

  1. Too bad they only offer this to the Male inmates that reside in the jail. They don’t offer any programs for the women inmates to help them have a better life upon release. That’s really sad and most of these women become repeat offenders beacuse there is nothing in place to rehabilitate them.

  2. My niece graduated through this same program at Nelson Coleman Correctional Center a couple of years ago, finished serving her time, and is currently working on her Bachelor’s degree. This facility offers plenty of services and programs for both men and women to help them when they are released. Keep up the good work!

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