Pictured, from left, are Rob Moore, Leo Patiño and Jerry Haffner. Photo courtesy of Warsaw Community Schools.

press release

WARSAW — Warsaw Adult Education recently welcomed community members, partners and local leaders to an open house at Ivy Tech Warsaw, where its classes are held.

The evening provided an in-depth look at the structure of adult education in Indiana and the key services available to adult learners, including high school equivalency programs (HiSET & GED), support for English Language Learners (ELL), funding resources, and integration opportunities. workforce such as Integrated Education and Training (IET) and Workforce Education and Innovation (WEI).

Attendees enjoyed a delicious dinner generously sponsored by Ivy Tech Warsaw, Lake City Bank and the Kosciusko County Community Foundation. After the meal, guests toured four active ELL classrooms, observing teachers and students in action and experiencing firsthand Warsaw Adult Education’s commitment to adult learning.

The event included a keynote address from the new Director of Adult Education in Warsaw, Leo Patiño, who began his role in July. Patiño emphasized the impact of adult education on both individuals and the community, reinforcing its importance in local workforce development.

Key attendees included school board members, Warsaw Community Schools Superintendent Dr. David Hoffert, WCS administrators, Dr. Tom Edington of Whitko Community Schools, and representatives from local organizations such as Live Well Kosciusko, Fellowship Missions, JCAP/KCRP , K21 Foundation, WorkOne, Lake City Bank, Cardinal Services and Warsaw Community Public Library.

Other local leaders attended from the Rochester City Council, along with representatives from Congressman Rudy Yakym, Kosciusko County Sheriff Jim Smith and members of the Department of Workforce Development administration team, including Jerry Haffner, director of the adult division; and Rob Moore, consultant for the Indiana Adult Education Mentoring Project.

Services offered by Moore and the Indiana Mentoring Project are provided through the Indiana Association for Continuing and Adult Education (IAACE), funded by the Department of Workforce Development.

“We are extremely grateful to Mr. Patiño and the adult education teachers in Warsaw,” said Hoffert. “This programming is a vital community resource, filling a gap and providing a pathway to essential skills needed locally.”

The event highlighted Warsaw Adult Education’s commitment to high-quality education and workforce opportunities for adults in Kosciusko and Fulton counties. With strong partnerships and support, Adult Education in Warsaw is positioned to make a lasting impact on the community and the lives of adult learners.

“As a retired local adult education program director, I have been so impressed with the service provided by Warsaw Community Schools through its adult education program,” Moore said. “The Warsaw program is a tremendous resource for area employers building their workforce and residents seeking training and certification in high-demand, high-paying occupations.”

For more information about adult education programs in Warsaw, contact Patiño at (email protected). You can also visit their website or follow them Facebook page.