The history of the Thorn Hill Learning Center reflects one community’s response to the “under education” of a segment of its citizens. Miracles have happened and continue to happen at 700 Leslie Ave. Some of those left behind in the modern technological revolution are finding hope through customized adult education.
The Thorn Hill story is about a few individuals and community institutions who dared to believe something could be done to help the under-educated become more productive workers and citizens.
Directors of the Thorn Hill Learning Center
- Ms. Lillian Nunnelly 1984-2000
- Caroline Collins 2000-2002
- Erin O’Donnell (interim) 2003-2004
- Mr. Mike Rosenstien
- Dani Smith Thorne
- Mr. Charlie Preston (interim) 2016-2017
- Ms. Rita Rector 2017-2021
- Kelley Anderson 2021-current
The WIN Program
The WIN Program began on July 1, 2000. WIN stands for Whatever is Needed. This program was funded by the Workforce Investment Act and then the Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act through the Bluegrass Area Development District. The program ran for 17 years. During this time, WIN served 475 out of school students. Three hundred, forty-two students received their GEDs for an overall 72% success rate.
The WIN Program provided transportation to and from school/work, GED classes, leadership development activities, mentoring, guidance counseling, service learning projects, paid work experience, and payment of test fees.
From 2006-2015, the WIN students participated annually with the other WIA/WIOA Programs in the Bluegrass Area Development District in the Steps to Success Competition where the students were able to demonstrate the skills they had learned while in the program. During this competition, the WIN Program was recognized as Outstanding Program of the Year for 9 of those years.
