Westbay Adult Education Academy

Carefully designed for eligible non-traditional students, Westbay Adult Education Academy provides free classes in a positive learning environment, to encourage and assist students in pursuing their educational goals, whether it’s earning a GED, receiving additional preparation before applying for college, or acquiring more skills to obtain or retain employment, by helping them focus on the necessary steps, and skill sets needed to achieve their goals.

The instructors at Westbay appreciate that every student comes to class with a different experience, and that their goals and achievements are very individual and personal.
They strive to create a welcoming, safe place for students to overcome barriers and fears that kept them from successfully completing academic goals, to help them achieve their diploma and move on to a better job or higher education.

Westbay Adult Academy Staff

Director
Director Melanie LaMountain is a recent arrival to Westbay, but comes with more than 25 years of experience in the adult education and social service field. Her background includes teaching, preparing students for GED testing and teaching English Language Learners.

Melanie is strengthening programs by further developing curriculum, updating materials, and incorporating technology. She is also pursuing the Academy’s goal of making education more accessible to students, by collaborating with the Westbay Community Action CEO, Jeanne Gattegno, to develop a computer-based, long distance learning program.

LaMountain oversees a staff of three instructors, and volunteers and interns when needed. Melanie has a B.A. in Human Development from California State University, Long Beach. She has also pursued graduate studies in education from National University in San Diego, California.

Instructors

GED Student Service Coordinator and math teacher, Betsy Beach, has been with Westbay nearly five years, and has several years experience teaching math and working in adult education. She has a B.A. in Urban Education from Brown University.

Betsy has also participated in writing and piloting adult education math standards for the State of Rhode Island, and is a member of the state sponsored TIAN math teaching research project. She is currently researching transition to college math curriculum for the state of Rhode Island.

GED reading and writing instructor, Carrie Caouette-De Lallo, also serves as a vocational support resource for Kent County residents who are seeking entry or re-entry to the work force. She started with Westbay in 2009, but has been a teacher for more than twenty years, with seventeen years experience as a public school Special Education Teacher and teaching ESL to adults. Carrie has a Master’s degree in Writing from Dartmouth College.

GED Instructor, Patricia Scott Roque, is a certified teacher, specializing in the subject of Reading. She has been working with Westbay GED students in all subject areas for two years. Patricia has a B.S. from Leslie University in Education.


For more information about The Westbay Adult Education Academy, please call Betsy Beach, GED Student Services Coordinator, at 732-4666 x130.