Helping to fill the gaps

"I married into a family of educators well before I started at Carbon County Higher Education Center (CCHEC), but I have always believed in the importance of education," said Jennifer Moore who formally stepped into the role of CCHEC Executive Director this March. She had been serving as the interim director since the retirement of Dave Throgmorton in July 2021 and prior to that, held other positions at CCHEC.

"I have worked at CCHEC since 2015," said Moore. "I initially worked in Marketing & Communications, then as the Student Services Coordinator (and) as the Assistant Director."

Moore is a Rawlins-native, born and raised in the county seat. She attended the University of Wyoming. So did her husband, Travis Moore, who along with being a Carbon County Commissioner is principal of the Rawlins Cooperative High School where he also teaches English. Her father-in-law, Larry Moore, was also an educator for nearly 40 decades. Much like her husband and father-in-law, Moore makes sure to be involved in her community.

"I am an active member of the community, love attending community events and sit on the Carbon County Museum board," said Moore. "Some of my favorite pastimes include traveling throughout the county with my family and photographing the beautiful sites we have here."

Like Moore herself, the higher education center also has an important role in the community which it has been filling for more than 30 years. According to Moore, CCHEC is a result of a 1985 agreement between Carbon County School District No. 1 and Western Wyoming Community College (WWCC) which formed a joint Board of Cooperative Higher Education Services (BOCHES).

"Created by the Legislature, BOCHES (or BOCES) generate partnerships between school districts and their nearest community college to provide services that aren't specifically being provided by either of them," said Moore. "Courses and services vary based on each community's needs."

The courses and services provided by CCHEC range from adult basic education to vocational and college level training at both high school and adult levels. They also provide community enrichment opportunities.

The main campus for CCHEC is located in Rawlins with an outreach campus in the Little Snake River Valley.

At an open house on September 14, Moore gave a tour of the campus in Rawlins and showed some of what the higher education center can offer the community. The woodshop is filled with a variety of projects including laser etched wood. At the time of the tour, the laser etching machine was busy on a project.

In the metal shop, a array of welding machines lined either side of the room along with a CNC (computer numerical control) metal laser cutter. Meanwhile, nursing students are able to work in classes simulating hospital rooms.

Due to its unique nature, CCHEC isn't quite a high school nor is it a community college. It serves as an outreach for WWCC by providing access to both online and onsite college credit courses and local instructors.

"CCHEC helps to allow students the opportunity to stay in the community to earn their certificates and degrees," said Moore.

According to Moore, it is difficult to put an exact number on how many students the higher education center averages each year. This is due to the different types of students and the different events hosted at their facilities. She estimates, however, that CCHEC serves thousands of students each year.

Services range from tutoring and testing for high school equivalency courses such as HiSet and GED, English as a Second Language classes and on occasion, Spanish as a Second Language classes.

"We offer numerous life enrichment courses including welding, woodshop projects, sign painting, driver education, Safe Sitter and numerous health sciences classes such as CPR, CNA II and Medication Aid," said Moore.

CCHEC also hosts political forums during election years and partners with other agencies to provide educational forums and workshops for the community.

Additionally, as an outreach for WWCC, it helps adults and high school students with advising, tutoring and testing for any classes through the community college.

"We also have local instructors who teach college courses on-site in the evenings," said Moore.

All together, CCHEC has a total of 24 staff members with 12 full-time and 12 part-time. Three staff members are located in Baggs to support the Little Snake River Valley outreach center. With a variety of courses offered, it seems that the higher education center has a little something for everyone.

"I invite anyone from our community to stop by and see what we have to offer," said Moore.