 |
CET El Centro |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
Employment | | Community |
| Success |
 |
|
Six is the Magic Number - WASC Accreditation
CET El Centro is the second largest vocational training center in the CET system with only the training center at our corporate headquarters being larger. CET El Centro has been serving Imperial County since 1980. Judy Siqueiros, El Centro CET director noted; "the primary goal of accreditation is school self-improvement." She spoke proudly of the extraordinary effort of her staff in preparing for the visit and evaluation of the WASC committee that came to El Centro April 25, 2004 to April 28, 2004. Led by Rudy Kastelic, Director of Adult Education for the Sweetwater Union High School District from Chula Vista, California, the visiting team worked with an eight member leadership team from El Centro CET. The process for the school improvement study included a staff generated in depth self-study utilizing instrument developed for such studies. This was followed by an on-site observation by the WASC visiting committee. Another key activity of the visiting team during this process includes interviews with staff, students and community. In so doing, the evaluating team gets first hand input from customers served by CET, staff that provides training and services to the customers, and the community-at-large that benefits from the CET program. This three member team thoroughly reviewed and validated the CET self-study, evaluated its findings, and made its recommendations to WASC on a term of accreditation for the school. CET would like to thank the many community members that supported us during the WASC process. We specially want to thank the community members present at the WASC Visiting Committee Luncheon. Maria Maciel
In November 2000, Maria enrolled in the Retail course with CET El Centro as a participant through the Workforce Investment Act office (WIA). Unfortunately, her high risk pregnancy did not allow her to graduate on time, as she was ordered to take time off from school, due to her delicate condition. She requested a leave of absence and promised to return to CET after the birth of her child.
This was a difficult decision for Maria, as her family was in crisis—her husband was disabled and had not worked since 2000, and one of her three children was also ill and required many follow up visits to a neurosurgeon in San Diego. When the students in her CET class learned of her situation, they decided to help: a fund raiser completely sponsored by the students, raised $700 to help Maria's family through their challenges. After the birth of her fourth child, Maria not only returned to the training like she had promised, but she completed her training and graduated with her Retail Certificate in August of 2003. Maria quickly found a part time job at Jack-in-the-Box, however, the hours she was working did not leave her the time she needed for her family. Mr. Andrew Rivera, her CET instructor, urged her to use her talent for cooking and start her own business. With the help of her instructors, Maria applied for and received her Business License and Heath Certificate, and is now running her own "lunch wagon business". Since there are no restaurants in the vicinity, she drives her wagon to the CET campus and offers a variety of Mexican breakfast and lunch dishes to the students and the small businesses nearby. Always determined, Maria also works as an independent consultant for Mary Kay Cosmetics. Maria often returns to CET for advice from her instructors about how to run her business, and shared with us that "God puts real-life angels in your life; I found some here at CET. Thank you!" |
|||||||||
|
|||||||||
|
|||||||||
Now a successful entrepreneur and mother of four, Maria Maciel has overcome insurmountable odds to achieve her success—thanks to CET's program and encouragement, Maria and her family are on their way to a better life.