Save the date and RSVP TODAY for our annual Literacy Luncheon to be held on Tuesday September 23rd at the Double Tree Hotel Ballroom in Durango from 12:00 p.m to 1:00 p.m. This gathering is our highest grossing fundraiser of the year. Enjoy lunch as we celebrate our benevolent donors and unite in support of adult education. Hear from our adult students as they highlight the impact our education center has made on their lives.
Your support empowers our mission to improve people’s lives through education as they earn a high school equivalent diploma, learn English, attain U.S. citizenship, and enter college or living-wage careers. Become part of our donor family and make an impact in your community!
RSVP Is REQUIRED by September 16th, 2025
DATE: Tuesday, September 23, 2025
TIME: 12pm – 1pm
LOCATION: DoubleTree Hotel Ballroom
COST: This fundraiser is free to attend but you must RSVP. Donations are sincerely welcomed.
TRIVIA NIGHT ANNOUNCED!
Here’s a date you don’t want to miss! Mark your calendar and register now for our first ever Durango Adult Education Center’s Trivia Night to be held Thursday, October 16th at Zia Cantina at 2977 North Main Street in Durango from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Teams are forming now, so grab you friends and co-workers for this absurdly fun event and test your knowledge against other teams. Questions will come from our GED and Citizenship tests. Entry fee is $20 per person and all proceeds benefit programs of the Durango Adult Education Center.
Fast & Curious 5K Run & 1K Family Walk!
It was Fast, it was Curious and it was for a GREAT CAUSE! The Durango & Cortez Adult Education Center Fast & Curious 5K Run and Family walk was a HUGE success raising funds critical to our success in providing adult education services for community members. Thanks to our many runners and walkers for their participation. We send out heartfelt gratitudes to our many sponsors for their significant contributions that made our event so successful: The Home Depot, Café Amour, Durango Harley-Davidson, Alpine Bank Backcountry Experience, Pause Fitness and Nutrition, Durango Land and Homes and Massage Intervention.
Honoring Our Graduates!
Education changes everything. At the Durango & Cortez Adult Education Center, we’ve seen this truth play out thousands of times over our nearly 40 year history. Behind every diploma, every new job, every family lifted up, there’s a story of determination meeting opportunity. Last night was filled with inspirational stories of success as we honored our graduating GED students.
Our dedicated team of instructors, staff and volunteers create the space where these stories unfold, but we need partners like you to keep our doors open and our programs thriving. Join us in investing in the potential that exists right here in our community
From Our Director
Join Our GED Program
Join Our English as a Second Language Class
SUPPORT ADULT EDUCATION IN SW COLORADO
Education Enriches the Whole Community
Since the Adult Education Center was founded in 1987, it has proved to be a bulwark of equitable education opportunities. Adults who acquire or improve English as a second language buoy the financial security of their entire household. They can take a more active role in the community and in their children’s education. Adults who complete a high school equivalent program to earn a GED break past the many barriers that would otherwise trap them in low-wage and low-skill employment. Many in this community have gone on to become successful entrepreneurs who contribute to the overall economic vitality of the region.
Lend your support to equitable education today!
QUALITY PROGRAMS. QUALITY RESULTS.
Our Mission: The Durango/Cortez Adult Education Center is a caring learning community, fills educational gaps by providing the skills and knowledge necessary for livable wage careers, post-secondary education, and social and economic mobility.
The Durango/Cortez Adult Education Center (DAEC/CAEC) provides affordable and effective education to young adults (17) and adults over 18. We equip individuals with the knowledge they need to lead productive lives, allowing them to better contribute to the local economy and the overall health of our communities. Learn more about why you should study with DAEC.
Furthermore, DAEC/CAEC protects the rights of individuals with disabilities by providing equal access to programs and services. For more information contact our Resource Coordinator, Jill Colburn-Bernard, at jcolburn@durangoadulted.org or 970.385.4354 Ext. 14.
Our students come from diverse educational and economic backgrounds. They choose us because we offer:
- Teachers who personally invest in the success of each student
- Small, caring learning environments with updated technology
- A flexible, student-oriented class schedule that adapts to most needs
- Extensive support services including onsite childcare, snacks, career advising, and scholarships
Nearly 300 students each year attend classes at the DAEC/CAEC. Our success is directly attributed to the many donors who recognize the importance of education in our community and our volunteers who help tutor, teach and assist with office duties and more. Contact us today to learn how to get involved with the DAEC/CAEC either as a student or a volunteer. Or, donate now and protect education equity in our region.
Pearson VUE Testing Site
We are an authorized Pearson VUE testing site and proctor a variety of industry-specific licensure, certification, and regulatory exams. Learn more about Pearson VUE testing here.
Spring 2025 Newsletter
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Student Testimonial
From the Blog
The Sandcastle Citizen
Naturalization Is Celebration and Concern for a Venezuelan Mom and Entrepreneur “Wash the sheets. Wash the towels. Restock soaps. Shampoo. Restock the kitchen. Paper towels. More soap. Clean everything-everything! All the surfaces. All the floors. All the rooms. All the [...]
There’s Something About Mary
For Retiring Adult Education Math Teacher, Impact Adds Up Fast Everything to Lose Officer Isaiah Balenti, ready for duty. Isaiah Balenti gunned the engine. The sirens on his police cruiser wailed. The emergency lights flickered and pulsed. Moments [...]
From the Gym to the Classroom
How a Retired PE Teacher-Turned-Tutor Coaches Adult Learners to Jump Hurdles and Break Barriers Craig[1] crossed the parking lot towards the driver’s license office. He jammed his hands in his pockets as negative thoughts rose from whispers to shouts. [...]
THANK YOU TO OUR LOCAL SPONSORS
Meet Our Students
This is a story about a dad, his family, and a secret. It’s a true story. The dad in question: Trevor Gallegos. His secret was very old and painful. His wife was the only other person who knew. His four children—ages 9, 5, 3, and 1—were in the dark.
How could he tell them the truth? They might not look at him the same if they knew. Fathers are supposed to be successful. Fathers are supposed to be heroes.
“I’ve always been kind of shameful about never finishing my education,” Trevor confesses. “I was always good at school but the turn of events…” he trails off.
Trevor grew up in Towaoc, Colorado, just outside of Cortez. In the 10th grade, when most students were stressing about learner’s permits to drive or being asked to prom, he had to find work and support himself entirely. Read more…