Adult Education
Catholic Charities' Center for Educational Opportunity provides adult education courses to give all who wish to further their knowledge the opportunity to do so. Students use the knowledge gained to improve their lives through enhanced English-speaking skills, job skills training, obtaining their high school equivalency, taking their learning to the next level, and even helping their children with homework assignments. We are a diverse education team of over 15 teachers, support staff, and volunteers dedicated to strengthening the Albuquerque community by helping adult students achieve their educational goals in a safe and supportive learning environment. Over 400 students enrolled the program’s classes last semester.
Online Summer Classes
Academic Calendar
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The online 2020 summer registration is closed. Fall Registration starts on August 17.
Students will need to set up technology in their device before starting the semester. Click the "Guide to start classes" below to learn about the online tools you need. If you need to read this document in another language, make sure to choose your language in the top left corner of the page. I) setting up your Google email account, II) using Zoom to communicate with your instructor, and III) joining your Google Classroom. |
Required Technology for Online Learning
Before you get started, ask yourself:
For Calendar and Course Description - check below. |
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SUMMER 2020
May 11 - 24 Open Registration online June 3 - 4 New First day of classes August 17 - 21 Last Week of Summer 2020 Instruction |
FALL 2020
August 10 Returning Student online registration opens August 17 New Student online registration opens September 1 Registration closed September 15, 16 First day of classes online November 23 - 27 Thanksgiving week NO CLASSES December 7 – 11 Returning Student Registration in class December 14 - 18 Last Week of Instruction |
Online Courses Available This Semester
Other Programs
NM Roofing Contractor Association
Meet our Team
Click in the name to read the biography.
Kris Degenhardt
Director Kris grew up on the east coast and has spent over thirty years in adult education. He has taught in many diverse classrooms and worked with immigrant and refugee students as well as students in corrections and returning citizens. 
Taylor Stanton
Program Coordinator Taylor received his BA in Africana Studies from Oberlin College, with a concentration in Caribbean Literature and Education. While attending Oberlin, he was awarded the department's Excellence in Academic Acheivement certificate and membership to the Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society. Over the course of his career, Taylor has facilitated educational, enrichment, and career readiness programming for returning citizens and justice-involved families; new immigrants and refugees; and critically at-risk youth. In his freetime, Taylor enjoys making mixed media art and pushing a skateboard alongside his heeler puppy. 
Jackie Jones
ESL instructor Jackie grew up in Colorado and made Albuquerque her home in 2013. She completed her undergraduate degree at Metropolitan State University of Denver and her master’s degree at New Mexico State University. She has taught every age from 1st grade to adults and was previously an elementary educator with Albuquerque Public Schools. Currently as an ESL instructor, she enjoys helping students explore their interests, furthering their skills with technology, and supporting them in their learning objectives. When Jackie is not working, she enjoys exploring the woods with her two young children and husband. 
Maria Bustamante
ESL and Citizenship instructor María T. Herrera Bustamante is currently an English As A Second Language, Citizenship, and Digital Literacy educator at Catholic Charities in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Maria is from Albuquerque's South Valley, the fifth of seven children born to Mexican parents. She holds a Bachelor's Degree from the University of New Mexico in Journalism and Mass Communication with a concentration in Advertising along with a Bachelor’s Degree in Spanish. Her energy and love for the arts has guided her to express herself through music, dance and theatre. Maria currently serves as a Board Member with the Albuquerque Theatre Guild. When she is not teaching you might find her crafting a song, dancing to salsa, planning for a theatre production, or learning to cook Ghanaian cuisine from her partner as well as spending time with family. 
Painting by "RonTango Jr., Artist"
Dania Ammar
ESL and ACCUPLACER Prep. instructor Dania Ammar is a PhD student at UNM’s Rhetoric and Writing Program. She is passionate about helping underrepresented ESL students transition to and flourish at higher education, so that the journey of growth may never end. Dania supports students with academic reading and writing skills, passing the ACCUPLACER, and navigating CNM’s as well as UNM’s registration processes and resources. (The painting is by "RonTango Jr., Artist") |
Tara Armijo-Prewitt
Associate Director Tara grew up in Albuquerque, graduated from Albuquerque High School, and later from the University of New Mexico before attending graduate school at the University of California Davis. Tara has worked in various roles in education since 2011 and is the current Associate Director for the Center for Educational Opportunity. When not working, Tara enjoys bug hunting and exploring the outdoors with her husband and two sons. 
Laura Nunez
ESL instructor Laura grew up in Albuquerque. She received her Bachelor’s degree from UNM and her Master’s degree from San Diego State. Laura has been a Bilingual teacher and a Spanish teacher. She feels that her mission to teach immigrants is still being fulfilled. She is in a church choir and she enjoys Afro-Cuban dancing and the theater. 
Paulette Atencio
ESL and Citizenship instructor Paulette Atencio was born in Penasco, NM and also lived in Chama, NM for 39 years. She is married and has two grown children and one grandson. Paulette has obtained an Associate of Arts, Bachelors and Masters in Curriculum Instruction with an emphasis in TESOL. She is a storyteller and published author of three books. 
Philip Boese
HSE instructor Philip is a retired high school chemistry teacher now working to serve students in less advantaged communities. He attended Vanderbilt University and U of Alabama graduate school before teaching in public schools in California for many years. He enjoys helping students bring their math and language arts skills up to high school equivalency level. Away from work, he enjoys his family, wife, children and grandchildren, and practicing his Catholic faith. |
Carlos Vasquez
HSE and NMRCA instructor Un Catracho (hondureño) Graduado como ingeniero electromecánico en 1994 en la Universidad de Honduras y el 2008 como ingeniero Industrial y finanzas en la universidad tecnológica Centroamericana. En el 2009 decidí impartir clases para adultos hasta la actualidad en la ciudad de Albuquerque. En el 2017 inicie como instructor de NMRCA (New Mexico Roofing Association) educando aprendices camino a certificación de Roofer Journeyman. He tenido el privilegio impartir clases de GED(General Education Development), HSE (High School Equivalency) e informática. Sirviendo a inmigrantes de diferentes naciones y ciudadanos americanos, además, imparto clases en inglés y español. Me encanta dar clases de soccer, bailar y en mis ratos libre disfruto con mi con mi esposa e hijos además, hacer viajes terrestres e internacionales y poder conocer otras culturas 
Juan Sanchez
HSE instructor Juan Sánchez grew up in Cuba and migrated to the U.S. when he was 22 years old. He earned a B.A. in Philosophy and an M.A. in Religious Studies at Florida International University, in Miami. He joined Catholic Charities in January of 2018, where he currently teaches High School Equivalency. He enjoys road trips, movies, and books. 
Aaron Cowan
ESL, Computer and Citizenship instructor Aaron is a doctoral student in Learning Sciences, researching augmented and virtual reality teaching methods. He has master’s degrees in Organizational Learning and Public Administration, as well as undergraduate degrees in mathematics, computer science. He started teaching in math and science at West Mesa and Manzano High Schools. He teaches in the School of Adult Basic Education and the Business Information Technology department at Central New Mexico Community College, where he served as a faculty senator and a union representative. In his spare time he has acted in approximately 50 movies, TV shows, and commercials. He has published several eBooks in the science fiction and humor genres. He enjoys volunteering with the Animal Welfare Department, where he has adopted several cats and dogs, and has raised money for animal advocacy groups like the ASPCA. He hopes to be able to enjoy travel again soon, and is working hard to improve his knowledge of Spanish, French, and Esperanto. He is also politically active and has served as a precinct chair, primary delegate, and voter registration agent. He teaches computing, HSE, and citizenship classes for Catholic Charities. 
Yumey Lavacude
Plaza Comunitaria Program instructor Yumey is from Venezuela and graduated in 2005 as an Accounting Technician at the University College of Administration and Marketing located in San Felipe, Yaracuy State in Venezuela. Yumey came to Catholic Charities as a volunteer to help in the adult class program called Plaza Comunitaria, a program aimed at adults who were unable to study and achieve their primary and secondary certificates. Yumey helps her students learn to read, write and then prepares them to continue their studies, if they so choose. |
