Garry Cox Award of Excellence in Honor of Gary P. Tang

Garry Cox is a real veteran of adult education who has greatly benefited the Rio Salado College ABE Program starting in 1997 when he was hired as a part time instructor and placed at a very busy learning center in south Phoenix .  Garry originally put his background as a high school English and math teacher to use in the GED classroom.  Later he ventured into the world of ESOL.  His experience really helped to solidify the center’s instructional staff which was being challenged by a growing student headcount. 

In 1999 Rio Salado College received a contract with the Department of Corrections (ADC) to provide literacy services at a newly built prison in southwest Maricopa County .  Garry was hired as a full time teacher and remained there for the next two years.  While he was there his instructional skills helped demonstrate to the ADC the value of contracting out for literacy services.  In the fall of 2000 Rio Salado College ’s ABE Program lost a very experienced learning center coordinator.  It happened to be at the south Phoenix center where Garry had worked before.  He applied for and was hired into the center coordinator’s position as of December 2000.  Because the previous coordinator had been in her position for a very long time, Garry faced the immediate task of proving to the center staff that he was capable of filling her shoes.  Garry fulfilled that task and he continues in that position today.  Garry understands that the students are his center’s primary customer so over the years he has reviewed the services offered to the students and, when beneficial, has led his staff in efforts to modify the class schedule and the registration and orientation process to better serve his students.  This is no small accomplishment in a large learning center that has served over 2000 students in a typical year.  Not only does Garry assist the ABE Program by running a large learning center but also helps by attending monthly Program Management meetings at which decisions are made that determine how the program is going to operate.

Garry provided invaluable assistance to the ABE Program two years ago when we were asked to move the learning center out of its longtime location due to their need for the space.  After a long search for a new location Garry led the actual effort to move the learning center books and materials, students, and staff into a new location.  It was a huge task but today the location is a wonderful, active, full-fledged learning center and Garry’s leadership was a primary factor. 

Beyond the excellent instructional activities that occur daily in the center Garry has offered the center’s space to help others.  Just last week Garry made space in his learning center available for an AALL board meeting.  And when the ADE needed a large location with technology available for last year’s Student Leadership Conference, they turned to Rio ’s ABE Program and Garry offered up the use of his center.

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the fact that Garry can always be counted on to assist with the ABE Program’s annual GED Graduation.  Not only does he volunteer but he is given the most challenging task to do.  He has to organize and line up the many graduates and lead the processional and recessional. 

Yes, Rio ’s ABE Program, the ADE, and the whole field of adult education have greatly benefited from Garry. 

Garry’s outstanding contribution to promote lifelong learning begins with the length of time he has worked in this field.  The first section spoke of Garry’s adult education work in Arizona but he started his career in lifelong learning back to 1973 in Michigan when he began administrating a GED program with a neighborhood drug treatment program in Detroit .  In 1978 began teaching GED classes in and coordinating a vocational training program with the Detroit Public Schools.  That continued through 1996 until he relocated to the Phoenix area in 1997 and obtained employment with the Rio Salado College ABE Program.  That’s almost thirty-five years in the business!

We can also pinpoint specific events and activities that Garry has engaged in during his time as learning center coordinator with Rio Salado College that demonstrate his commitment to lifelong learning.  Garry recognizes that professional learning has become a major focus for all ABE Programs in Arizona .  To assist the program in implementing the new form of National Staff Development Council standards-aligned professional learning, Garry became a member of the ABE Program’s Professional Development Leadership Academy (PDLA) team.  PDLA is a three-year project that requires over twenty days of attendance at ADE or program meetings and trainings each year, as well as projects.  This represents a major commitment on Garry’s part and the ABE Program is grateful for his dedicated, hard work.

The Arizona Association of Lifelong Learning (AALL) is the primary organization that represents students and lifelong learning professionals in Arizona .  Garry has served on its board for several years and has already served a three-year stint as President-Elect, President, and Past-President.  He remains on the board today. 

Everyone has heard of the National Honor Society, but few people are familiar with the National Adult Education Honor Society.  Rio ’s ABE Program has always been a leader in regards to NAEHS.  It has held an annual induction since 1995 and it takes it very seriously.  Every year a committee is formed to plan and carry out the induction.  Garry has served on the committee many times, and more significantly has often been the Master of Ceremonies, putting to use his background in speech and drama.  What better way to demonstrate the rewards of lifelong education?

One group achievement I know Garry is proud of is when his learning center staff was selected by the Maricopa Skill Center as their year’s entry into the District’s Innovation of the Year Award. 

The Division of Adult Education was similarly impressed with his staff during the 2006 Arizona Adult Literacy Week Event Challenge.  Garry’s center staff won the grand prize in the group activity category and they received a $1000 prize which the staff used to send three instructors to a National Staff Development Council (NSDC) Conference where they learned about ways of delivering professional learning activities aligned to the NSDC standards.  This helped give them a head start on learning communities and study circles and so on.

On a very personal level, Garry is a sprinter and distance runner who regularly fares well in his age bracket at track meets.