Oak Ridge Today

Thanks to Tennessee Reconnect grant, school bus driver pursuing her dream to become a teacher

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Gioconda "Gio" Duran

Gioconda “Gio” Duran

 

By Bob Fowler, Roane State staff writer

This school bus driver is hitting the books in between routes in her quest to become a teacher.

Gioconda “Gio” Duran, 44, is a Tennessee Reconnect student at Roane State Community College. Thanks to the Tennessee Reconnect grant, eligible adults can now attend Roane State tuition-free.

Duran said Tennessee Reconnect “is a big reason why I wanted to go back to school.”

Her 19-year-old son, John Duran Jr., is also enrolled with scholarships at the college’s Roane County campus. [Read more…]

Roane State Education Department to host April 28 Open House

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

The Roane State Community College Education Department will host an April 28 Open House for anyone interested in becoming a K-12 teacher.

The event will begin at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, April 28, at the college’s Roane County campus, 276 Patton Lane in Harriman. Visitors will meet in Room 224 in the O’Brien Humanities Building.

Visitors will be able to meet with faculty, tour classrooms, and learn about the college’s 2+2 elementary education program with Tennessee Tech. The 2+2 program allows students to earn a bachelor’s degree while taking all of their classes at Roane State.

For more information, contact Stacie Bradshaw, (865) 354-3000, ext. 4773, or bradshaws@roanestate.edu.