The Eastland-Fairfield Aspire program earned a pair of Chancellor awards, including Central Ohio Teacher of the Year, in recognition of its student performance and enrollment.
The Eastland-Fairfield Career & Technical Schools (EFCTS) Aspire program received the 2024 Chancellor’s Award for Outstanding Student Growth and had one of its instructors named Central Ohio Teacher of the Year. The Ohio Department of Higher Education (ODHE) presented the awards to its recipients in September.
Eastland-Fairfield Aspire instructor, Alexander Gaddis, was named the 2024 Central Ohio Aspire Instructor of the Year. Mr. Gaddis was nominated by his peers after demonstrating his ability to connect with students, showing high student performance rates, and serving as a versatile and valuable member of the EFCTS Aspire team. Mr. Gaddis teaches courses in the High School Equivalency (HSE) preparation program and the English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) program offered by EFCTS.
Coordinator of the Eastland-Fairfield Aspire program, Dr. Eric Bowles, credits Mr. Gaddis for developing and leading the first group of students through its new HSE cohort model, as well as leading the partnerships between the EFCTS Aspire program and local partners KDC One and GAP.
Dr. Bowles described Mr. Gaddis as “innovative” and “solutions-oriented”, and expressed how much his students appreciate and love him for his dedication to their success.
Mr. Gaddis is one of eight individuals who were named regional Teacher of the Year and is now in the running to be named the 2024 Ohio Aspire Teacher of the Year at this year’s OAACE Conference in late October.
The Chancellor’s Award for Student Growth serves as a measure of program growth and achievement. Between the 2022-23 and 2023-24 school year, the Eastland-Fairfield Aspire program witnessed nearly a 50 percent enrollment increase and met its goal to serve at least 600 students. That year, Dr. Bowles reports that 682 students were served with 12 hours, or more, of instruction. In 2024-25, the program’s goal is 700 students. Dr. Bowles reports that they are well on track to meet that goal with more than 200 students having already reached that milestone.
The Eastland-Fairfield Aspire program is a part of its Adult Workforce Development division and provides free, state-funded, education and training for individuals 18 and over. The Aspire program offers HSE, ESOL, 22+ adult diploma, and correctional education programming options. For more information, please visit www.EastlandFairfield.com/aspire.