KC Educator Receives Top Honor

McGee-Benson named state’s “Adult Educator of the Year”

KILGORE, TX, Feb. 18, 2009 -- Kilgore College’s Bobbie McGee-Benson, instructor and director of Adult Basic Education, has been awarded the top award in the state for excellence in adult education.

McGee-Benson was crowned 2008-09 “Adult Educator of the Year” by the Texas Association of Literacy and Adult Education at its annual awards banquet Feb. 12 in Austin.

She has been in the field of adult education for 26 years, serving the last 12 as the director of KC’s Adult Basic Education program.

“Her position has allowed her to lay the foundation for the success of countless students,” said Dr. Julie Fowler, dean of KC—Longview. “She leads an exemplary program, and her desire to see students succeed never wanes.”


McGee-Benson was nominated by the KC Adult Basic Education staff. There are 54 Adult Education Co-operatives and 56 English Language-Civics Programs across the state that all have a director and assistant directors. Each of these directors and assistant directors were eligible to be nominated if they were TALAE members.

“I feel honored that the staff thought enough of me to nominate me for this award,” McGee-Benson said. “I never imagined that they felt that I was capable or worthy for that matter of winning a state award.”

McGee-Benson said she is very passionate about what she does, and is proud that the program gives adults in the community a second chance at an education.

The KC Adult Education program was also presented an award of recognition for the volume of student memberships in TALAE.

“One of our program’s former students who is now enrolled in college received a $3,200 scholarship for having the highest GED scores in the East region,” McGee-Benson said. “So for me to win this award out of all of the other administrators who also work hard and do a very fine job is all a reflection on the quality of the KC Adult Basic Education Program.”

The program was visited by the state office in December and was recognized as being an “exemplary” program.

“I’m just so proud to be a part of it,” McGee-Benson said. “Every time the program receives state recognition for achievement, as it has done for the last five years, I am elated.”

About the Adult Basic Education Program:

KC’s Adult Basic Education Program holds classes throughout the year, and all classes are free. Courses are offered in English as a Second Language, GED, Exam Preparation, as well as basic literacy-level to twelfth grade level instruction in reading, writing, social studies, science and math.

For new students, the staff assesses educational levels and designs a specific training program for each student. Day and evening classes are offered on the main campus in Kilgore, at KC—Longview, Gilmer, Gladewater, Henderson, Price (Carlisle), Overton and Tatum.

For more information on the KC Adult Basic Educational Program, call (903) 988-3738 or (903) 753-2642, or visit: www.kilgore.edu/abe.asp.

Source: KC News Release