A True Collaboration Equals Anton Powells GED Success Story

Montgomery County Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation

April 2016

Inmate Anton Powells story began when he returned to the Montgomery County Department of Correction and Rehabilitation (MCDOCR) in November of 2014 from the Maryland
State Department of Corrections for a reconsideration hearing. He had already completed
seven (7) years of an eighteen (18) year sentence before arriving at MCDOCR. During this
hearing the Judge decided that in addition to other stipulations that were being imposed,
that he must also obtain his GED. In preparation for GED testing Inmate Powell began taking the required GED preparation classes within the Montgomery County Correctional Facility (MCCF) Model Learning Center (MLC) in January of 2015. He then went on to take the
GED Ready practice test (Science and Social Studies) in February, 2015. The Montgomery County Correctional Facility (MCCF) is a Pearson VUE certified testing center.
When two (2) religious services volunteers were visiting Inmate Powells housing unit, he shared with them
that he desperately needed to take and pass the GED. After a month of participation in the level 3 GED
class, the teacher unfortunately went out on extended medical
leave. Joanne Wilson a Montgomery County Public School
(MCPS) Home and Hospital teacher at the MCCF MLC, was approached by these two MCCF religious services volunteers (Diana
Jones and Mary Wasik of Gaithersburg Presbyterian Church) who
proposed a tutoring program to assist Anton. Approval was obtained and the tutoring sessions began in June of 2015. The tutors
for these sessions grew in size, with Darryl Bratton and Dinah
Jones assisting with Social Studies, Aroon Datta teaching Science,
and Paula Sayles teaching lower level Math. Along with the tutors, Volunteer Support
volunteer Frantz Wilson (of Gaithersburg Presbyterian Church) provided spiritual support to Anton. Other
support came from the MCCF MLC, who provides the books and school supplies needed for the GED tutoring sessions.
In September of 2015 along with the added anxiety and apprehension of taking all four sections of the
GED Ready practice tests (Math, Reasoning through Language Arts, Science, and Social Studies), Inmate
Powell was scheduled to reappear before the Judge. Anton did not obtain the required score standards and
as a result, he did not pass the tests or obtain his GED. Now standing in front of the Judge during the September, 2015 court hearing, Anton asked the Judge for additional time to remain at MCCF (in lieu of transferring back to Maryland State DOC) to continue working towards preparing to pass the GED state exam. The
Judge granted his request and he was allowed to remain at MCCF until the next court date in March of 2016.

At the end of January, 2016, the GED Test Service issued an announcement that the passing score for
each section of the test was being lowered from 150 to 145; due to research being done at the community college level which cited that students who passed the new GED test were performing better than those who had
graduated from high school. All exams that had been taken since January of 2014 would be retroactive. This
meant that Anton had already passed the Social Studies and Science portions of the test. The next test was
scheduled for February of 2016. On the day of the GED Ready practice test, inclement weather (3 feet of
snow) in Montgomery County pushed the test back an additional week. This allowed Anton more time for review and preparation. The following week Anton was scheduled to take the two remaining test sections that he
was required to pass.
Proudly on March 1, 2016, Anton passed the two remaining test sections
(Reasoning through Language Arts and Mathematics); finally obtaining his
High School Diploma. Overall, this achievement by Anton consisted of five
(5) GED Ready practice tests and three (3) GED Tests; which are comprised of thirty (30) individual test sections. Anton persevered through the
hard times and even failures. The collaborative support team of religious
services volunteers, MCCF MLC faculty staff and Correctional staff contributed to Antons sense of hope for his future. On March 21, 2016, Anton
was able to stand tall in front of the Judge and confidently report that he
had passed the GED test.

Graduation Celebration with MLC

Support and Volunteers

Correctional Officer, Sgt. M. McCullough (on behalf of a number of Correctional Officers) approached Management staff, indicating an interest in being a part of any celebration being planned in recognition of Antons
accomplishment. A surprise celebration was arranged by Correctional Staff/Officers, religious services volunteers (tutoring team), and MCCF MLC faculty staff. The celebration took place in an MCCF MLC classroom.
As a surprised Anton walked into the classroom, one of the attending Correctional Officers who was conversing with Anton stated, Have you ever heard of the proverb. It takes a village and behold with stretched-out
arms, welcome to your village.
Quotes from the MCCF Officers:
Officer Marcus Tabb

I told Mr. Powell Im proud of him its a great

achievement. Its time to focus on your next goal.
Keep up the good work and remain focused.
Officer Bryan Hsu
MCDOCR Staff Supporters

I congratulated Mr. Powell and told him that all of

his hard work has paid off and that he should be
very proud of himself.

Officer Michael McCullough

One thing that I shared with Anton is that his accomplishment inspired not only the inmates but
the officers as well.

Director Rob Green

congratulating Mr. Powell

Written By: A True Collaboration within the Montgomery County (MD) Department of
Correction and Rehabilitation