Adult Education

Meet the Adult Education Team

GED

Dennis DeRado

Email: dderado@tstboces.org

Schedule: Monday & Wednesday: Online

Interests: Music & Outdoors

Fun Fact: I am a drummer and have been playing in bands since I was 14 years old. I've also been teaching percussion for 25 years. I also love hiking, golfing, gardening and spending time with my family and friends.

Philosophy: I am a different teacher, and our program is very different than high school. There are many kinds of intelligence and many different ways to learn. I am confident that I can help students find their way to an GED diploma in a way that best suits them and their situation. I am here to help them achieve their goals as quickly as possible!

GED

Jennifer Gibson

Email: jgibson@tstboces.org

Interests: Anything arts & crafts!

Fun Fact: I love when students keep in touch after graduation. Please let me know what you are up to in the world!

Philosophy: I am open to my students' input as to making a plan that works for each person. If they would prefer chipping away at the TASC test, by focusing on one test at a time, that is one method. Others may have more time and want to focus on getting through the entire test in one setting. There is no one right way and I want to have an individualized approach to help people reach their goal of getting their GED diploma. You may think you are starting from scratch but you are not! I have seen this in working with determined students of all ages and backgrounds.

ESL

Gavin Donohoe

Email: gdonohoe@tstboces.org

Interests: Traveling, Music, & Art

Fun Fact: My wife and I have one cat named Pox, and seven chickens: Mango, Chartreuse, Yellow, Lavender, Sky, Magenta and Grey.

Philosophy: I am an immigrant from Ireland who became a US citizen in Ithaca last year. I understand very well the experience of moving to a new country and trying to get settled. I have been through the immigration system and have loved being able to help my fellow immigrants pass their citizenship tests. Having lived in Asia for many years, I also know what it is like to not speak the language and feel the frustrations of not being understood. Learning English is not easy, and we work hard, but we also have a lot of fun in class.

ESL

Iris Tseng Yagi

Email: iyagi@tstboces.org

Interests: Cooking, Nature Photography, & Music

Fun Fact: I love cooking traditional comfort food that my mother and grandmother made when I was a child.

Philosophy: I strongly believe that having a welcoming and supportive classroom community is the first step in learning. We work on building positive relationships to create a community by sharing our ideas in a safe and non-judgmental environment. My students are some of the most motivated and hardworking people I know. For many, learning English is not only for jobs, communicating with others, or obtaining U.S. citizenship. It’s a way to restore some form of normalcy and a way to give oneself hope and confidence. I appreciate their sharing their journeys with me. They motivate me!

Student Services

Luke Sjolund

Email: lsjolund@tstboces.org

Position: Student Services Advisor

Services: Managing casework & providing assistance accessing employment opportunities, career skills trainings, social services, and other community resources.

Interests: Live Music, Gardening, & Travel

Fun Fact: I've lived in New York City & San Francisco before moving to Ithaca.

Philosophy: Relationships are the building blocks to any effective student-teacher relationship I believe. I constantly seek out opportunities & implement activities to offer our students, hoping to attract their participation. I also remind & encourage every student at enrollment to contact me with any needs or inquiries they may have.