Rural Valley Inmate Earns GED

by Jonathan Weaver

For the past nine months, Maudie Cochran – of Rural Valley – has been incarcerated in the Armstrong County Jail for selling drugs and violating a probation order.

But, she has put her time to good use, and earlier this month, achieved her GED – the General Educational Development test equivalent to high school academics.

“I’m going to get a job and go back to school,” Cochran said. “I have a GED now, so I can get a job so I can take care of my family.”

The soon-to-be 27 year old said her graduation will benefit not only her, but her nephew, sister and mother – who is awaiting a kidney transplant.

Cochran officially passed her test Sunday, Oct. 30 before her plea court appearance November 3. Public Defender Preston Younkins was the first to know of his client’s accomplishment before she told – and was congratulated by - Armstrong County President Judge Kenneth Valasek.

It’s not only an accomplishment for Cochran, but her teacher – Carrie Satterfield.

“In my time of being here, six years for the diploma program (and) four years for the G.E.D, she is my first female graduate,” Satterfield said. “We are extremely proud of her that she persevered, followed through with everything and completed the task.”

“And, she did the majority of this on her own, so she has a lot to be proud of.”

Known by her students as “Ms. Carrie,” Satterfield explained the “completely individualized” program.

“Whenever they’re ready, they take the test and if they pass it, we go on to another subject,” Satterfield said. “There’s no set amount of classes you have to take – it all is based on your ability and how much you need from me. And, they can take each section of the test individually. It’s even up to them what order they take subjects in.”

“Mostly what we do in here though is math, because that is the most-difficult part of the test. I have books that they can take back for the science, social studies and reading/language arts sections and they do a lot of that work back in their cells. Math is where the biggest need is.”

Cochran confirmed math was another one of her weaknesses – working with Satterfield on math (which includes lessons from fundamentals through trigonometry) from September through earlier this month.

Satterfield, of Ford City, relates mathematical concepts to real-life experiences, such as shopping or pizza.

“I wouldn’t have been able to pass (math) by myself without (Satterfield),” Cochran said.

Cochran, a student since May, said she learned as much as algebra studies in 10th grade at Elderton High School. In the summertime, Lieutenant Jessica Hicks proctored tests for inmates.

Satterfield works with the Armstrong School District to provide inmates under 21 years of age skills and curriculum to achieve their high school diploma

Cochran and Satterfield agreed strong reading comprehension skills also help students excel.

“I read a book (mostly murder mystery fiction) every Saturday, a whole book. I do laundry here so I sit in the laundry room and read a whole book,” Cochran said. “I’ll be back there five hours.”

Satterfield explained the class is open to all graduates and non-graduates.

“They can still come and brush up on skills. (Cochran) is still coming –she technically passed the last section of her test, but she is still continuing to come to the class because there is always new things you can learn.”

While class is held during the day, most inmates –like Cochran – studied or took computer-based tests after midnight.

“I passed my GED at 3:30 in the morning,” Cochran recalled.

“That works for them. (Students) don’t mind getting up early to come to my class,” Satterfield said. “They would rather I came at 2 o`clock in the morning, but that’s not going to happen.”

Cochran dedicated her graduation to her late-father, Jim – who died about two years ago of cancer.

“People ask me all the time ‘How can you work in the jail?’ And I tell them it is the most rewarding job I’ve had in my life because (the inmates) truly appreciate it when you have gone through what they have gone through,” Satterfield said. “I had a young man who cried during his speech because he thought when he got in trouble, he would never get his high school diploma. He was so moved with the fact that he was getting it that it brought him to tears.”

Satterfield called Cochran’s speech “very, very touching” and Deputy Warden Matt Roofner put the remarks in his “top 3” of graduation speeches.

“You have no idea how this piece of paper will change my life. This is a whole new beginning for me,” Cochran wrote in her speech.

No Comments

No comments yet.

RSS feed for comments on this post.

Leave a comment

You must be logged in to post a comment.