COABE Elections 2023

The Coalition on Adult Basic Education represents the system of 79,000 adult educators across the United States. COABE has over 45,000 active members, and serves nearly 51,000 individuals annually through programming and special events. COABE membership benefits include professional development opportunities such as webinars, virtual and national conferences and regional institutes, access to the COABE Journal, participation in our legislative advocacy initiatives, the six time award winning “Educate and Elevate” national public awareness campaign, and the award winning Move Ahead with Adult Ed campaign to help local programs increase enrollment.

Elections for the COABE President-Elect

We invite you to vote for the candidate of your choice for the president-elect position on the COABE Board of Directors. Please review the candidates’ profiles below and submit your ballot by 10/30. All votes will be tabulated and certified by the elections committee, and the results will be posted on 10/31. Please contact info@coabe.org with any questions.

Jeffrey Abramowitz

Jeffrey Abramowitz, J.D. is the Chief Executive Officer of the Petey Greene Program and past Executive Director of Justice Partnerships and Executive Director Reentry Services for JEVS Human Services and the founder and Program Director of Looking Forward Philadelphia Reentry Program. Jeff previously served on the Executive Board of the Coalition on Adult Basic Education, COABE, where he served as Secretary, and currently co-chairs the State Advocates for Adult Education Fellowship Program. Jeff was appointed to the Pennsylvania Reentry Council and serves as Chairman of the Employment Committee and Co-chairs the Reentry Committee for the PA Workforce Development Board and serves as the Chair of the Philadelphia Reentry Coalition.

Jeff is a subject matter expert for the US Department of Education, is the Moderator for US Department of Education LINCS Community of Practice on Correctional & Reentry Education and works on the IET in Corrections project for OCTAE.  Jeff sits on several organizational boards and centers his work in the intersection of adult education, workforce development, and justice.

Jeff is the producer and host of the award-winning weekly radio/television show “Looking Forward” on Philly Cam Radio WPPM 106.5FM and PhillyCam TV (Live Streaming; Xfinity 66/966; Fios TV 29/30; Roku; Apple TV), and Co-Host/Producer of the Behind Every Employer Podcast.

Hector Martinez

Hector Martinez, a former adult learner who has held many leadership positions over his career, is currently the state director for adult education at the Kansas Board of Regents. Prior to this position he served as executive director of the Garden City Career Connection Academy at the Garden City Community College for 14 years- the adult education program he graduated from years ago.

Hector, one of COABE’s “Educate and Elevate” champions, immigrated from Mexico to the United States in 2000. Read Hector’s success story to learn about where he came from and his achievements. Working with adults in Mexico for 7 years prior to his arrival in the U.S., Hector’s professional experience includes more than 20 years as an ESL student, volunteer, instructor, coordinator, director, and college adjunct. Hector completed his master’s degree in education with an emphasis in education and organizational leadership from Newman University. He participated in the Kansas Leadership Academy through the KBOR (2010–12). Hector completed his bachelor’s degree in education as licentiate in technological teaching in Mexico.

Hector has served in various roles at the Kansas Adult Education Association, including vice president, conference chair, and president. He has also served on the national Coalition on Adult Basic Education (COABE) board of directors as regional representative and on the conference committee, technology committee, and strategic planning committee. His service on community boards of directors includes the KansasWorks Local Area One, the One Stop committee, the Garden City United Methodist Ministries, and the Garden City Teachers Federal Credit Union. Dedicated to the success of adult students, he implemented the first Spanish literacy program in cooperation with the Mexican government since 2008 at the Garden City Career Connection Academy.

Vote Now

Please Note: Valid COABE membership is required to vote. If you are unsure of your membership number, please click here to look it up.