President’s Corner: A New Year of Hope, Promise and Change

The start of a New Year is a time to focus on gratitude, optimism for change that lies ahead and, an opportunity to examine how we can best control our purpose with so much continued unrest and uncertainty.

We are all being challenged to think about how we approach this year and respond in a way that acknowledges the ongoing pain and suffering by so many, while considering the power we have in defining our future and our story.

Our country needs healing and I encourage all of us to hold on to the promise that we can and will be a better place for all. We have an opportunity to turn the tides for our learners who have been impacted by the pandemic. We have an opportunity to rebuild, lay a foundation to address, and make the appropriate changes on social, racial, and economic injustice. We will take all of what we learned this past year and use the wisdom gained as guidance to navigate 2021.

While I recognize we have many challenging times ahead, there is tremendous potential that exists in the changes that must take place. My commitment has never been stronger on how we will lead and change how GED Testing Service puts the learner at the center of everything we do. With over 70 years of experience, we know how to connect to our learners, we know how to listen to their needs, and GED must not leave any learner behind. They need us more now than ever.

We must have a path that puts each learner on a road to success. Success that changes a learner’s life for the better not only for them, but for generations to come. As we enter in 2021, you have my commitment and the commitment of GED Testing Service in these key areas:

• To be a safe, open, trust-worthy organization that is built on inclusivity.
• To ensure that our employees feel a sense of belonging in our company. and in their communities.
• To champion that everyone has an equal and lifelong opportunity to succeed through learning.
• As a company and as individuals, we will continue to declare that Black Lives Matter. We stand in solidarity with Black communities and will continue to support and advocate for Black people.
• To take an inclusive approach from every element of our brand to address social, racial and economic injustice.
• To make intentional steps to align, advance and connect with organizations that support and promote our learners and educators of color.
• To be a learner-centered organization that leaves no learner behind.

I recognize that navigating at a time of so much unrest can be extremely difficult, but it’s imperative that we remain hopeful, compassionate and relentless to change. It will take each of us to have goals, a vision and a passion that doesn’t rest. As a GED community, we have an opportunity to write this chapter as a team.

As we move forward through this coming year, I ask each of you to think about the following questions:

• How can you be part of the story that changes history?
• What will you do differently in 2021 that will ensure social, racial, and economic injustice no longer holds back our society? 

Let’s stay connected, stay safe, stay aligned and let us change history to the story we want to be written.

I look forward to being alongside each of you in this journey.

–Vicki Greene, President of GED Testing Service