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California State Prison Principal Is A Proponent Of Higher Education

When you're incarcerated, the last thing on your mind is going back to school, but that's an option available to some prisoners who meet certain qualifications. Dale Hamad is the principal of one rather unique adult education program as it's classes are held in the confines of the California State Prison system. Oftentimes prisoners enter into the walls of the state prison with little to no education. The Adult education classes at Granite Adult School allow a prisoner the opportunity to obtain education and attend classes from K through 12. Upon completion, they can move on to an associate degree at three partnering community colleges. You'd think that there aren't many opportunities in a level four prison -- one being the least secure with levels four through six reserved for higher security felons -- but as cliche as it sounds, where there's a will, there's a way.

What does your job consist of?

"I am the principal of the Granite Adult School located inside California State Prison, Sacramento. We provide K through 12 education for incarcerated felons in a level four prison and access to community college courses at three California Community Colleges that allow inmates to complete an AA degree."

What do you like most about your job?

"I love the creativity of developing a variety of programs that give inmates an alternative to the criminal lifestyle. In addition to school, I run three full-service libraries that provide access to legal services, leisure reading programs and literacy services. We also have a creative recreation program available to all inmates and we run four TV stations inside the institution."

What was your education history like?

"I taught college and earned a BS in social sciences, an MA in sociology, an MA in educational leadership, and a Ph.D in sociology."

Do you have any advice for someone wanting to pursue a similar career?

"Go to school and volunteer in a prison to see if you like the environment."

Paulo Acoba is a California native raised in the Bay Area and living in the Central Valley. He enjoys distance running, cycling and grassroots motorsports. He holds a degree in management from the University of California Merced. Paulo has been writing for Examiner.com since 2012 and covering the Fresno area.

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