Piedmont Adult School Newsletter
Education For Life! Fall 2025
Piedmont Adult School is proud to participate in the 2nd Annual Piedmont Adult Recreation EXPO, taking place on Sunday, November 16.
This free community event showcases programs and activities designed to enrich the lives of older adults. Open to both residents and non-residents, the EXPO is a great way to learn about the many opportunities available right here in our community.
Piedmont Adult School instructors will be on hand to share information about our classes and answer questions. As a special treat, visitors can enjoy complimentary samples of Pad Thai prepared by our long-time cooking instructor, Chat Mingkwan.
For more information about the EXPO, please contact Lisa Gardner at lgardner555@gmail.com or Dick Carter at camktgrp@comcast.net.
WHEN: Sunday, Nov. 16, 2:00-4:00pm
WHERE: Veterans Memorial Building, 401 Highland Ave., Piedmont
COST: Free!
Piedmont Adult School’s ESL students have a unique opportunity to strengthen their language skills through our Conversation Partners program. Now in its second year, the program pairs ESL learners with community volunteers to practice real-world English conversation.
The sessions take place just before or just after ESL classes, making participation both easy and convenient. This extra practice time helps students gain confidence, fluency, and cultural understanding beyond the classroom.
This year, Piedmont Adult School is offering three levels of ESL—Beginning, Intermediate, and Advanced—with conversation partners available at every level.
“The Conversation Partners program is a wonderful way to bring our community together,” says Director Shannon Fierro. “Students benefit from the chance to practice English in a supportive, friendly setting, while our volunteers gain meaningful connections with people from around the world.
If you are interested in being a Conversation Partner, please fill out this brief interest questionnaire. There is still a need for partners from 7:00 - 7:45 on Monday evenings.
Piedmont Adult School is expanding its Career Technical Education (CTE) program, offering free, state-funded classes designed to help community members build practical skills for work and business. The program focuses on the needs of small businesses, entrepreneurs, and nonprofits, giving them tools to grow, manage resources, and compete in today’s marketplace.
Among the newest offerings are two courses taught by Piedmont resident Priya Kumar: Foundations of Marketing with AI Assistance and Putting AI into Practice: Advanced Marketing Applications. These popular hands-on classes help students strengthen their marketing strategies while learning to use AI tools to save time and stretch limited budgets.
“A small business can’t always afford a data analyst, strategist, or admin assistant,” Priya explains. “AI can play those roles when you learn how to use it well.”
Priya says she was drawn to teaching at Piedmont Adult School because of the community focus. “I’ve taken classes here myself, and I love that it creates a space where people are curious, open-minded, and willing to learn from each other,” she says.
In addition to Priya’s courses, the CTE program includes classes on legal issues, insurance, website design, AI applications, and Microsoft Office.
“We see our CTE classes as a way to strengthen not just individual skills, but our community as a whole,” says Adult School Director Shannon Fierro. “By supporting local entrepreneurs, nonprofits, and job-seekers, we’re building connections and opportunities that benefit everyone.”
When Sofia Arango Garcia moved from Colombia to the United States at age 18, she dreamed of building a future in her new home. Although she already had a high school diploma from Colombia, she quickly realized that an American diploma would be essential to continue her education and advance her career.
Sofia arrived in 2023 as an au pair, working first in New York and later with a family in Piedmont. Adjusting to life in a new country was not easy. “I didn’t speak or understand English very well when I moved here, so it was hard to communicate,” she recalls. “It was a big challenge, but I grew up a lot.” With determination, she improved her English and began planning her next steps.
That’s when she discovered Piedmont Adult School’s free, independent study high school diploma program. Its flexible schedule was the perfect fit for her job. “I loved the program,” she says. “I had mornings free, so that’s when I did most of my studying.” She especially enjoyed the U.S. History and Civics courses, which gave her a deeper understanding of her new home in America.
Earning her diploma was a stepping stone towards her future goals. Sofia has since transitioned to taking classes at Berkeley City College and Laney College, working towards an associate degree in Biological Science. Her ultimate goal is to transfer to a nursing program and become a Registered Nurse. “A U.S. high school diploma is required for all nursing programs, so this was a critical step” she says.
Her advice to others is simple: “Don’t think too much, just do it. It’s a great opportunity. You never know when having that diploma will be useful.”
Piedmont Adult School offers a free, flexible high school diploma program for adults 18 and over, open to all California residents. Learn more at piedmontadultschool.org or call 510-594-2717.
