2019 GED Testing Service Annual Conference Highlights and PD Sessions

We had an amazing time at this year’s annual conference held July 24th through July 26th at the Swissotel in Chicago. Nearly 600 educators and administrators from across the country joined us to learn the latest teaching strategies for the GED test program, discover new classroom tools and resources and network with fellow educators.

We kicked off the conference with a welcome reception and opening plenary session. During the opening plenary GED Testing Service President Randy Trask shared highlights from the past year along with insight on what’s to come for the GED test program. 

Our keynote speaker, Kevin Powell, shared his personal story of how he used education to empower himself despite being raised in extreme poverty. 

Powell encouraged the educators in attendance to lead with love and acceptance in their classroom while helping each student unlock their full potential. 

Powell is a writer, activist and the President of BK Nation–an organization focused on education, civic engagement, leadership training and other issues. He has written 13 books, including his critically acclaimed autobiography, The Education of Kevin Powell: A Boy’s Journey into Manhood. 

In Friday’s plenary session, CT Turner and Martin Kehe shared the latest updates about the GED College Ready score levels and how students are using their scores to bypass remedial courses and earn college credit.

Kehe also shared results from a recent data match done with a community college to track the success of GED graduates over the course of enrollment.

2019 Awards

During the awards luncheon we recognized the outstanding achievements of five recent GED graduates and two GED Administrators.

The 2019 GED Graduate of the Year award recipients are:

Reginald “Reggie” Latten, Mackinzie Rickabaugh, Jennifer Nemchek, Lillian Rivera and Kyle Reckart. 

More information about each of the winners is available here. 

Rae Smith, GED Administrator for Kentucky, is our 2019 GED Administrator of the Year. 

Amelia Iutzi, Former GED Administrator for Alaska, received the GED Testing Service Lifetime Achievement Award. 

Professional Development Sessions and Workshops

This year’s conference boasted over 20 workshops and sessions including the return of the Corrections track.

The conference sessions covered a number of topics including GED outcomes and data, using technology in the classroom, moving students from the “red zone” in Math, promoting your local adult ed program and much more! 

The Corrections track included best practices for Corrections educators and test administrators, integrating counseling and therapy in Corrections instruction and integrating federal and state innovations. 

All of the sessions presented during the conference are available here.

Thank You!!

Last but definitely not least, we want to thank all of our conference attendees, presenters, sponsors, vendors, the Swissotel and the city of Chicago!

We look forward to seeing you all in Atlanta next year for the 2020 conference!