'It's so rewarding': Lincoln teachers relish opportunity to help jail inmates get their GEDs

Feb. 5—With a whiteboard, computers and cabinets labeled math, science and reading, many would think they've just walked into a classroom at one of Lincoln's high schools.

But this classroom is behind locked doors guarded by corrections officers.

The Lancaster County Department of Corrections offers general adult education at its facilities, allowing inmates to pursue their GEDs. For some, it's an opportunity to change their life before they are released. For a couple of the teachers aiding them in their quest, it's a privilege.

"I was at (Lincoln Public Schools) for 35 years," said Karen Williams, an adult education teacher with Southeast Community College who works with inmates at the Adult Detention Facility at 3801 West O St. "And this could be my best job, it's so rewarding."

To earn their GED, the students in the county's jail must pass a test in four categories: math, language arts, science and social studies.

But before they enter the program, they must take an exam that assesses their current education level. This helps the instructors identify areas where a student needs the most help.

Brenda Schmidt, another adult education teacher at SCC with 23 years of experience at LPS, designs study material for each student.

The Adult Detention Facility classes are split into four two-hour classes from Monday through Thursday between 1:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.

The class sizes are maintained between eight to 12 students. Because each student might be at different levels, the class size is built so the instructor can reach every student during the two-hour class period.

Teachers cannot bring their cell phones, wallets or keys into the classroom. This reduces the chance an inmate could sneak contraband back into their jail pod.

The biggest difference in teaching adults is that they want to be in the classroom, Schmidt said. This makes teaching more manageable, even if disruptions sometimes occur during class time.

"It not like middle schoolers, where you see them understand one piece of the puzzle at a time," Schmidt said. "For (the inmates), it's like all these pieces are coming together at once."

According to a study published in the American Journal of Criminal Justice in October, educational programs appear to reduce recidivism rates. The study prepared a meta-analysis based on 148 estimates from 78 research papers.

It found that participating in any form of education program while incarcerated made inmates 14.8% less likely to commit another crime. Education programs also increase employment probability after release by 6.9%, according to the analysis.

SCC partners with the Lancaster County Department of Corrections to bring the program to inmates at no charge. Most of the costs are covered by a federal grant awarded to SCC, and the rest is supported by the county's budget for jail programs.

The grant awarded SCC $16,192 this year to proceed with the adult basic education program, said Cristina Thaut, program director at SCC.

"We really do the best we can to use that money wisely," Thaut said. "Because in the past, we've had to give it back because we weren't there."

Last year was the first full year SCC was teaching adult education at the Adult Detention Facility since 2020. COVID-19 restrictions have sporadically kept them from the jail's classroom in the past three years.

Thaut hopes the consistency of being back will increase the amount of money provided by the federal grant and lead to more students and more teachers.

Thaut said a lot goes into working at the jail, and that a full-time position is something they would like to look into in the future.

"I'd love to stay out (at the jail) all day, but we do not have the funds to support that," Schmidt said.

Reach the writer at 402-473-7254 or avargas@journalstar.com.

On Twitter @Alex_Vargas1994

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