PJC’s Beth Shelton receives Kellogg certification

Published or Revised September 26, 2011

Four weeks of intensive study out of state and a yearlong follow-up project have brought a stamp of excellence as a developmental education specialist to Paris Junior College's Associate Dean of Communications and Fine Arts Beth Shelton. Last summer Shelton attended the Kellogg Institute for the Training and Certification of Developmental Educators, held at Appalachian State University in Boone, N.C. While living in a campus dorm, she attended the month-long living/learning experience for training and certification of education professionals who work with academically unprepared students. Each year, 45 individuals participate in the summer program, followed by a practicum in which participants implement new techniques on their home campuses. Shelton's project involved retaining PJC's basic writing students, with emphasis on success for one and two semesters, as well as one year. After assessment, the project recommends strategies to foster student success. "PJC is indeed lucky to have had Beth Shelton participate in the Kellogg Institute," said PJC's Vice President of Academics Dwight Chaney. "This provided her the opportunity to become a specialist in developmental education. Her time and commitment was exemplary and we look forward to our students benefitting from her expertise." Shelton says she had a lot of help from both the former and current PJC Institutional Research directors, Jerry Hammack and Beverly Matthews, who helped her with the project numbers. As a result of her hard work and dedicated follow-through, Shelton was recently awarded the certification of Developmental Education Specialist. "The time and work involved is well worth it to help our students succeed and advance to the next stage of their lives," Shelton said. "PJC truly has a commitment to help them learn."