The Tutorial Center moves to Main Street

BY SEAN-MARIE OLLER Executive Director, Center-wide Tutor Coordinator

The Tutorial Center (TTC) is an Adult Education and Literacy (AEL) provider and one of four non-profit organizations statewide that provide free Adult Education and Literacy services. The mission of Adult Education and Literacy Network states that, “students are at the center of our work, and AEL providers offer a broad range of services that are specifically tailored to each student’s needs. Our services change people’s lives and build their asset bank, so that our students can pursue further education or careers that align with their passions and goals”. All Tutorial Center staff embrace this statement. TTC has been changing the lives of students for fifty-one years!

As The Tutorial Center (TTC) celebrates its legacy and prepares to move its Bennington site to a new building on Main Street, we realize that we are an integral part of the community and that our services are more vital than ever. Post-pandemic numbers are increasing, and people are seeking a variety of services. Local schools and employers look to TTC to assist their students and employees with regaining credits, alternative educational approaches, and job readiness and advancement skills. Additionally, TTC has played a vital role in assisting the influx of New Americans in Bennington County.

Vermont Adult Education and Literacy providers are the official, state designated service providers for the High School Completion Program (HSCP) and the GED for Vermonters. These two pathways help people of all ages and backgrounds to obtain a high school credential at the speed and rigor that is suited for them”. The Adult Education and Literacy services are free to any Vermonter 16 and up. Having such a service in Bennington allows students, such as

Cullen, to achieve their goals.

“At the beginning of my senior year of high school, I was faced with a tough decision. I had to figure out how to support myself while living independently as well as graduate high school with a diploma. I could not go to school full time because I had to work. ...I realized that [TTC] could help me achieve my goal. I enrolled, and started going to classes two days a week. This new school week was much more conducive to my heavy work schedule. As if that weren’t enough, I had the flexibility to finish all of the classwork at my own pace. Eventually, I graduated with a diploma from the Tutorial Center after sixteen months. ...Had I not been presented with this opportunity, I would have had to take my GED which for me, was the less desirable option. The staff at the Tutorial Center were kind, welcoming, and helpful, and made my decision to finish high school a stress free and rewarding one.” Additional free services offered