Jessica Garcia Montoya: CCRS at Luna Community College

My opening into Adult Education is like the story of so many others - I just walked through the doors. I started my journey into completing my college degree in the spring of 2020, and COVID-19 sent students home to start online learning. During the Summer of 2021, after my first 2 semesters at Luna Community College in Las Vegas, my spouse also felt the desire to complete her HSE, so together we walked into the College and Career Readiness Institute at Luna Community College. There we met the Director Lisa Bentson. 

My spouse completed her testing and graduated with her HSE in spring of 2022. During that time, we were also sent home because of the Hermit's Peak/ Calf Canyon fire which burnt so much of our forest and had also threatened the LCC campus as the fire line was just beyond the hill behind the campus. During this time, we also lost my father in law to suicide. 

I graduated with an AA in Criminal Justice and then completed my Bachelor of Art degrees in Criminal Justice and Sociology. During my Senior year at New Mexico Highlands University, my spouse was given a position as a peer tutor and mentor for Adult Education at CCRI. I spent a lot of time coming in and meeting ABE and Literacy students as well as holding many conversations with the Director. I applied for a position as a Math Tutor with Lisa Bentson being one of my references. For months we discussed my fears and worries about finding work after I completed my degrees. 

As so many others have also stated, I came out of substance abuse, being justice involved, and battling mental health issues, but Lisa Bentson, did not see that part of me. She saw that I was hard-working and understood the Adult Learner population. I was afraid, but I did apply for a position as a Part-time Math Instructor. Since starting this position almost a year ago, I see that this is where I was meant to be. I am now full-time in Adult Ed working as a Math Instructor as well as an IET Co-Instructor for the Welding program. Adult Education, to me, is all about second, third, or however many chances. It is a place where those who feel like misfits can find a safe place to learn. Being here to help support and teach learners is what makes this job perfect for me. I dreamt of being a teacher when I was a child, but I grew up and so many others told me that it was something someone like me could never do. I'm here to show others that we all can do those things we've been told we can't.