Deer Isle Adult Education supports community growth

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Since the late 1970s, Deer Isle Adult Education has been a quiet but essential thread in the fabric of the community. Under the long stewardship of Mike Wood, residents earned high school credentials, accessed University of Maine System ITV courses, and participated in enrichment opportunities that brought people together across generations. After his departure, the program continued to provide core services, though frequent administrative turnover and the pandemic slowed its momentum and visibility.

In 2022, Morgan Witham transitioned from teaching in the DIS K-12 system into the Adult Ed Director/Teacher role with a vision to rebuild for modern realities. She imagined Adult Ed as a platform where islanders of all ages and backgrounds could connect, learn, and respond to a changing world, while holding onto the strengths and spirit that define this place.

As a former student shaped by the program during Mike’s tenure, she had a sense of personal investment in the work. At her first Adult Ed budget workshop meeting, a resident asked, “Wait. Deer Isle has an Adult Ed program?” It was a telling moment, and a call to action.

Since then, momentum has been building. In late 2023, a conversation at the Stonington town office about a Maine Connectivity Authority grant sparked a deepening partnership between the Town of Stonington, Adult Ed, and local nonprofits, grounded in shared goals around economic resiliency. The resulting $1.75 million grant-funded renovation of the former Stonington Elementary School into the Island Connectivity Hub and Small Business Center reflects that vision: a space where workforce training, education, business support, and telehealth can intersect and grow.

In 2024, Adult Ed moved into new space at the Hub, increasing visibility and access. The addition of Island Institute Fellow, Grace Upham, for a two-year term expanded outreach and community programming. With that added staff capacity, Morgan could focus on core student services: high school completion enrollment has climbed to an all-time high of 21 students, more than a dozen islanders have received college/ career advising, and new classes in business planning and financial literacy are running. Plans are also in motion to explore CDL and 6 Pack licensing to support local workforce needs.