Lee Pulaski lpulaski@wolfrivermedia.com
Robyn Shingler, the new director for Shawano Community Education, emphasized several times in a presentation to the Shawano School Board this week that her goal is to “keep the schools lit.”
Her statement was not in reference to the schools’ electricity consumption but to the number and variety of classes offered for community members throughout the year. Shingler said she hopes to expand SCE’s courses in the hopes of providing more continuing education for Shawano and the other communities that make up the district.
“Community ed is really focused on offering enrichment opportunities, engaging the community outside the early K-12 and bringing them into our schools, keeping our schools lit with opportunities in a variety of subjects,” Shingler said.
She noted that SCE is working on provide more for the area’s aging demographic, including AARP driving safety courses and Alzheimer support classes. SCE also provides a monthly card club and a lunch bunch lecture series.
SCE is also partnering with the National Council on Aging to bring a new curriculum called the Aging Mastery program. Up to 20 seniors will be able to take part in the program, according to Shingler, which covers 10 different topics in relation to aging.
“We just started talking to the community about it,” Shingler said. “We already have 14 people signed up, and it’s only been a week.”
The community education program is open to all ages and has programs running for 12 months out of the year, Shingler said. In the current school year, there are 145 different class offerings, she said, and she is expecting enrollment to top 1,400.
“Right now, we’re into our whole backyard and gardening series. Master gardeners are holding a class as we speak,” Shingler said. “We have a nutrition class. We’re talking about cake decorating. We’re offering arts classes.”
SCE offers several Spanish classes, beginning and intermediate, and Shingler said those classes are at capacity. She said that many involved with local businesses are among the students.
For the future, Shingler wants to provide new courses from the Shawano County Historical Society like an antiques series, and classes about brewing, creative writing, two-step dancing and photography. She also hopes to develop a series of courses to attract young adults and potentially keep them in the community.
“I’m very moved and motivated to reach out to our young adults in the area, particularly those who aren’t university-bound,” Shingler said. “Perhaps we can engage some of our young adults in our community.”
Shingler said she is also looking at creating podcasts of future courses, and anyone interested who missed out on the live class can pay a subscription.