About

Tina is passionate about providing opportunities for people to elevate themselves, their families & ultimately their communities. “Dropping out of high school, for whatever the cause, is no reason to settle for less than what you deserve in life,” she says. Before her career in adult education, she worked as a gas station clerk, bank teller, director of financial aid, and a substitute teacher. One of her favorite quotes is, “Men build monuments, women just get on with it.”

Ken helps students achieve their goals, whether it’s going to college, enrolling in a job training program, or finding a career that pays a living wage. He also partners with community agencies to help overcome students’ non-academic barriers to success. When he’s not at work he likes to travel, read science fiction and detective novels, and spend time with his wife of 28 years.

Rachael is from East Bernstadt and has been with LCAEL for 6 years. She holds regular classes at Laurel County Detention Center where she says she’s found her niche. Her favorite thing in adult education is celebrating graduation. Besides teaching, she spends time working on her farm, camping with her family, and has a passion for sewing.

Erin has been with LCAEL for 11 years. She likes to teach, learn, and laugh and is happy that her job allows her to do all of those things. Her favorite thing about her job is, “Sometimes I get to have a front row seat to another human being’s success.” Erin travels whenever she can, always looking for new things try. She recently read The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt (to her 3-year-old). “It’s unique & funny, and it reminds me that everyone has a different life experience & perspective.”

Mark is a London native. He is retired from Laurel County Schools where he served as the Director of Bands at South Laurel High School. He holds master’s degrees in music performance and educational leadership. Mark and his wife, Caprecia, have a menagerie of dogs and cats and enjoy the many outdoor activities Southeastern Kentucky has to offer. His goal is to learn something new everyday!

Jennifer started working at Skills U after being a stay at home mom. She has a degree in nursing and is a certified yoga instructor. Teaching yoga made her realize her love for teaching and helping others become the best versions of themselves. She enjoys exercise, reading, spending time with her family, and coffee at anytime! Her favorite quote is, “Life is either a great adventure or nothing at all” by Helen Keller.

Jessica is originally from Wilmore, but says she’s enjoyed learning more about this beautiful area of Kentucky. Jessica loves teaching ESL and helping with bookkeeping. “This is my first experience teaching, and I have realized how much I enjoy it!” Previously, she worked for eight years as the finance manager for a dealership in Lexington and has a background in accounting and business. In her spare time, she enjoys hanging out with her husband and kids on their farm.

Bio coming soon!