How adult education came to Tri Star Career Compact

Tri Star’s adult education programs are now a staple in the community, but it wasn’t always so. When Tri Star was first formed, they exclusively focused on high school students, but soon the need for adult education programs became apparent.

“Once they had the high school program going, they decided that there was a lot of adults that need training for the job market,” said Dan Fowler, creator of Tri Star’s adult education program. In 1984 Fowler was hired by Tri Star to start their adult education program.

“We looked at what the need was in the area as far as what kind of businesses and industry was in the area, and to see what their needs were,” said Fowler. After their second year, Fowler said that there were 1,500 adult students going through their programs, and it was also highly regarded. “There were 126 vocational schools in Ohio, but only 21 were called full service centers. In only our third year, we became the twenty-second one.”

Fowler said that the programs they offered weren’t limited to mornings either.

“Full time programs were there eight hours a day, then we had programs where they would be able to take them during the evening, or day programs where they would stay 12 to 16 hours to improve their skills in an area,” said Fowler. But training wasn’t the only focus for the program. “We did programs with Dannon Yogurt,

Goodyear, Reynolds and Reynolds. We also did programs for local banks, as well as General Motors.”

Fowler got his start in education as an instructor for vocational education nine years prior in 1976. Fowler said that he was a bricklayer for years prior and had his own masonry business, but when a recession hit, and a recovery started, he had problems finding workers.

“I couldn’t get bricklayers, so i went and talked to Upper Valley Joint Vocational School about the problem. They said they didn’t have anyone to teach a course on it, so I offered to,” said Fowler. From there, the need for adult education became apparent to him. “I saw what was happening with the adults. You’d see adults who couldn’t do anything, and then they were able to get jobs. When the opening came with Tri Star, I decided to see how my ideas and theories could work.”

What Fowler enjoyed most about teaching the program was seeing how his students changed.

“What I liked about the adult division was seeing people grow and being able to do things. I saw a lot of people grow as an individual, and not just in their trades,” said Fowler.

I asked Fowler if he though that there would always be a need for adult education, and he had this to say; “Yes, that will never change. What you’re finding with COVID, is its going to affect the kids when they become an adult. They’re going to need a lot of skills training as an adult.”

One thing Fowler said he’s been glad to see is that the career fields aren’t restricted as they used to be.

“Women weren’t being trained in electronics, welding, or machine trades, and all of that started to change with Tri Star. Your local people were your instructors, and they didn’t have to go far to find someone who could teach those areas,” said Fowler.

Fowler said that working at Tri Star was more than a job.

“It was a way of life for me, it was not a job. Going with the adults and seeing them grow, and the pride on their face doing something they couldn’t do. It wasn’t that they couldn’t do it, they just didn’t know how,” said Fowler.