To PSEO or Not to PSEO? That is the Question.

“ I was a straight A student, active in Math League, but when I found out I was pregnant my junior year at North Branch High School everything changed,” says Ashley Mages current Anoka-Ramsey Community College, Post Secondary Education Opportunity student.
Embedded Video on YouTube: http://youtu.be/eQyhaUWEKCI

“When I asked my high school counselor to help me become a PSEO student, she discouraged me from the program,” states Mages, “telling me I would miss out on Math League and participating in activities.” Although Mages worried, she really wanted to work on her AA degree and did not want to continue to attend high school classes while pregnant.

ARCC Vice-President Michael Seymour reports that ARCC “has the largest number of PSEO students in MnSCU.” He also states that “the college cannot promote the option to the public due to state rules.” Seymour also reports that local high schools “lose money when students sit in our seats not theirs. They prefer students take AP of College in the schools.”

Kim Bienfang, ARCC Financial Manager says that high schools will sometimes promote PSEO “when they are over capacity. Now that enrollments have leveled off I think counselors address the opportunity if asked.”

Nora Morris, ARCC Analyst says that “There are several ways to measure success but one that is used by the MnSCU system measures students at various points in time to determine if they have graduated, transferred to another institution or are still enrolled (as opposed to students that have left school without graduating or transferring). High school students that started in fall 2008 post a success rate of 80.2% when measured in fall 2009. This compares to a success rate of 69.7% for regular undergrad students for the same time period. This high success rate for PSEO students has been quite stable over time.”

As for Mages, she will graduate with her AA degree May 13, 2011 and intends to pursue an engineering degree at the University of Minnesota. She says “PSEO was the right choice for me and I wish my high school counselor would have helped me sign up and plan my classes at ARCC.”

Joe Call another PSEO student currently attending classes at ARCC, Cambridge Campus is the fourth child in his family to obtain college credit while in high school. Call also reports that North Branch High School did not mention PSEO. Call says “I don't remember talking about it once. There were a lot of people who didn't know about it when I was in 10th grade. I would say PSEO and they would give me a blank stare.”

Although PSEO works for Call he thinks students should only do it “if they can handle it. I had a surprising amount of friends go back to high school after doing PSEO for one or two semesters. They usually miss their friends and the whole high school experience. But I would recommend it to friends if they can handle being lonely and doing college work.”

ARCC does not receive full compensation for PSEO students from the state. Beinfang reports “the state department of education pays ARCC 179.57 per credit which includes books and fees.”

With the cost of education rising, PSEO is becoming an attractive option for high school students. Each school district decides rules for qualification for PSEO. Call reports in North Branch School District students “must be in the top 25 percent of their class to qualify for PSEO.” Call also says he “I was a wrestler and a knowledge bowler”, at his high school.

Mages had a different experience stating that “if you are PSEO you are not openly invited to participate in senior activities or events.” She also noted, “as a PSEO student I was not considered for local scholarships even though I was a straight A student and active community member.”

Kirsten Kennedy, ARCC Student Senate President says “students complain that some professors do not believe PSEO students should be attending college courses and are prejudiced against them.” During her two years serving as president, Kennedy has not personally heard any professor, administrator or staff member belittle PSEO students. Recently, Kennedy served on a college wide hiring committee and was surprised to learn that allowing high school students to take PSEO classes actually hurts K-12 districts by averting money to the colleges.

Jordan Kennedy, a PSEO student who graduated from North Branch High School in 2009 says “taking PSEO classes was the smartest decision for my education and family.” She liked that she could participate in cross country while earning college credits. She says “it was the best of both worlds and now I will graduate with my bachelor’s degree a semester early because all my PSEO credits transferred.” Kennedy currently attends Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah and is majoring in Arabic.

Cindi Gilbert, ARCC Activities Director and High School Outreach Coordinator says “unless the high school asks us to promote the PSEO opportunity, we are not allowed to promote it while out at high schools.” Gilbert also stated that “PSEO students can fully participate in college clubs and hold offices, even in student government.”

With families struggling to make ends meet and many parents out of work having the choice to have students earn college credits during their junior and senior years of high school is a very attractive option.

U2 will take time away from its "360 Tour" for a benefit concert supporting New Pathways on Friday, April 23 at the Isanti County Fairgrounds in Cambridge, Minn. Tickets will go on sale Wednesday, April 10 at newpathways.org , with six different ticket prices set from $35 - $250.

Bono, lead singer of U2 became interested in New Pathways when he was introduced to founder Cheryl Gray last year at a conference on ending poverty. Bono promised Gray that if she ever needed help to call and she did. Bono stated, "I offered to do a charity gig for Gray anytime, anywhere."

Gray reports that rural homelessness is up 500 percent and New Pathways was forced to turn away 200 families last year who desperately needed help.

Bono will present Gray with a check for $1 million and all proceeds from the concert will be donated to New Pathways. U2 intends to play songs from its two platinum albums and ten gold, including "In the Name of Love," and "Sunday, Bloody Sunday."

The Extraordinary Educationalist

Claudia Kittock “decided in the second grade that she was going to be a teacher.” She never wavered from her desire and has been teaching at Anoka-Ramsey Community College, Cambridge Campus for the past 25 years. Her life remains a testament of strength, humor and joy and how desire overcomes even the deadliest foes.

Kittock grew up 30 miles from Rochester in southeaster Minnesota on a farm homesteaded by her ancestors that formally became an Evarts farm in 1958. Kittock and her three sisters grew up reading and talking about politics and history every night at the dinner table. Both her parents graduated from high school, but it was clearly understood in her family that a college degree was a minimum requirement for the Evarts children.

Kittock began her education at West Concord High School, progressed to Rochester Community College then Gustavus Adolphus. Both her Master’s and PhD are from the University of Minnesota, Twin-Cities.

Kittock met her husband Rick her first year teaching. Rick was directing the fall play, and asked for her help with the musical numbers. By November they were dating, and just celebrated their 32nd anniversary. Kittock has two sons, Tyler her oldest graduated from the University three years ago and the youngest, Ryne will graduate in May.

Kittock has always been an activist and worked for Hubert Humphrey’s campaign in 1968, marched against the Vietnam War, marched for women’s rights and continues to be active in campaigning for the equal rights of all citizens.

Kittock was hired 25 years ago at Cambridge Community College as a psychology professor. Working during the early college stages was “very exciting because the college was always in danger of being closed.” In order for the doors to remain open students would have to attend classes so all faculty and staff made it their goal to become the institution of choice.

Five years ago Kittock was diagnosed with Stage IV colon cancer. Kittock believes the diagnosis “transformed her life and challenged her belief about medicine and healing.” She continued to teach during a year of chemotherapy, five weeks of radiation, and nine surgeries. Kittock noticed that cancer patients either die, or choose to live a life where every minute matters, she chose the latter. Kittock has “always been gifted with joy, but cancer magnified that joy in ways that will never, ever go away.”

Kittock now believes that much of what modern medicine tells the public is flawed by the involvement of drug companies. Medicine has largely become about profit, yet Kittock acknowledges she is alive because of the drug companies. Kittock believes that much of the wisdom about healing from illness lies in nutrition, Tai Chi, meditation, and centuries old practices and wisdom. Kittock enjoys using coconut oil, olive oil and butter for cooking and believes that incorporating fats and whole foods is vital to health. Kittock also runs two miles every day and intends to compete in a 5K this summer.

Kittock volunteers every week at Hennepin County Medical Center and reads books to children in the pediatric clinic who are waiting to see the doctor. She is known to her audience as the Book Lady. There are many funny and poignant moments. One of Kittock’s favorites was an adorable five year old boy who read with her for over 90 minutes. He giggled, he was astonished, he asked questions, was thoroughly engaged. When it was time for Kittock to leave, she thanked him for reading, and told him she hoped he would see the doctor very soon. He responded, "Senora, I saw the doctor a long time ago." Kittock asked where his papa was, and he pointed to a man sitting in the corner. The papa explained that he had been waiting for 90 minutes after the appointment because "reading is so important.”

Kittock currently resides with her husband Rick in Minneapolis. Kittock loves living in the city and their loft overlooks the Mississippi River and is two blocks from the Guthrie Theater. Kittock’s favorite restaurant is Sanctuary which is across the street from their loft. It only holds 65 people, but the food is amazing, and the owner knows everyone who dines there and always asks about Kittock’s last oncology appointment.

Kittock remains optimistic about the future of the world, our country and her health. Kittock is committed to providing an exceptional learning environment and believes that Anoka-Ramsey Community, Cambridge Campus is her favorite place to inspire and ignite a love of learning in all her students.

Educating Deidra

Deidra Peaslee loves her family, loves learning and loves education. Peaslee currently serves as the Chief Academic Officer of Anoka-Ramsey Community College, while working on her EdD degree and growing two daughters. Peaslee lives in North Branch with her husband Rich and daughters Emerson and Paige. If you happen to drive down their road you might just see her out playing horse in the driveway or biking around town with the entire family. Peaslee has traveled to 14 countries and counts Brussels, Paris and Tokyo as her favorite cities abroad.

Peaslee grew up in Eureka, South Dakota with a mom teaching high school English and a father running the family business. Both her parents graduated from college and instilled the importance of education in Peaslee at a very young age. Peaslee completed her BS in psychology from South Dakota State University, a MS in counseling and student personnel from Minnesota State University at Mankato and is currently pursuing her EdD degree in leadership from St. Mary’s University.

Although Peaslee originally chose to work for Anoka-Ramsey Community College because of the geographical location she quickly learned the important role that two-year colleges play in providing quality educational opportunities at an affordable price for a diverse population of students. The greatest challenge Peaslee faces in her job is muddling through the bureaucracy in order to meet with students, hear their stories and watch them succeed.

Peaslee commutes between the Coon Rapids and Cambridge Campuses of Anoka-Ramsey Community College and maintains an office in the administration suites near the computer labs on the Cambridge campus and in the administration offices on the Coon Rapid campus. Peaslee participated in the Presidential Hiring Committee and looks forward to meeting the new president.

Peaslee is looking forward to the seeing the growth at Anoka-Ramsey Community College in the next ten years. With the alignment of Anoka-Ramsey Community College and Anoka Technical College Peaslee believes that with the challenges come great opportunities to provide a wide range of courses to students pursuing both technical and liberal arts education in East Central Minnesota. Peaslee understands that academic programs that provide opportunities for students to develop essential skills necessary to succeed in the work place are vital; she also desires that students gain the drive to become lifelong learners so they can, “adapt to future changes.” Peaslee is believe that servant leadership is superior in the educational settings and continually pushes herself to learn new techniques and trends to help students pursue their dreams.

Peaslee competed in track throughout high school and sees sports as another way for students to learn leadership, self-discipline and academic proficiency, while participating in sports they love. Peaslee remains committed to juggling marriage, motherhood and work with finesse, humor and games of horse played in her driveway. If there comes a time when you need some assistance with an academic problem or need some wise direction on which path to take, keep your eyes peeled for a very tall, bespectacled blonde woman; introduce yourself to Deidra Peaslee and be prepared to be inspired.