Meet the Staff of Milan Adult and Community Education!

  • Photo of Connie Cox light brown bob, wearing a colorful striped blouse with a black top and silver necklace

    Hello, I'm Connie Cox and I am the director of Milan Community Education. I have worked for Milan Community Education for 30 years running Adult Education, Alternative Education, and enrichment for the community. I am very fortunate to have worked with so many wonderful community members, staff, and students.

    I have served on the MACAE (Michigan Association of Community and Adult Education) Board for eight consecutive years and have just been re-elected for another two year term. I received the Director of the Year award in 2013 from the state wide adult education association. In 2008 I established the first Milan Adult Education Scholarship for graduates who complete their high school diploma and attend college.

    I love running the Community Education Department in Milan because we have so many resources to offer to our community. We offer the “Fast Track to Graduation,” high school completion, free credit counseling, Manufacturing Boot Camp, Resource Night, Literacy Night, field trips, College Night, after school classes, employment opportunities and much more!

    Milan Community Education offers a multitude of diverse learning opportunities for people of all ages! From sports to physical fitness to culinary arts and everything in between...we have something for you here at Milan Community Education!

    coxc@milanareaschools.org

  • Headshot photo of Malissa Smith with red hair, hoop earrings and blue, white, and black top

    Hi I'm Malissa Marie Smith, B.S., M. Ed. A little about me...I am a first generation American, who values her Hungarian culture. I have lived my entire life in the state of Michigan, and would not want to live in any other state, although I have been to countless other states.

    I am a 1996 graduate of Milan High School, and since high school, I have added a Bachelor's of Science Degree as well as a Master's Degree to my educational accomplishments, and am currently working on my next degree. I am a certified K-12 teacher with endorsements in English Language Arts and Social Studies. Teaching has always been my passion, and influences all aspects of my life.

    I have worked for Milan Area Schools since 1996, but only as a teacher since 2003. My teaching career began in the Adult Education Program teaching math, admittedly, my least favorite subject. Eventually, I transitioned into teaching History, Geography, and Government among other subjects. In the spring of 2009, I was asked to teach at the Milan Federal Correctional Institution, where I teach multiple subjects.

    I was one of the first teachers in the state of Michigan to teach a new curriculum called Preparing Workers for the 21st Century, and in 2012, I won a state award recognizing my teaching of that curriculum. Later that spring, I was awarded a federal commendation for my teaching. That winter, the state of Michigan asked me to help rewrite the Preparing Workers curriculum.

    smithm@milanareaschools.org

  • Photo of Heidi Kaminski, long curly blond hair, pink glasses atop her head, a bright pink dress and black sweater and tights

    Hi, my name is Heidi Kaminski and I'm the English Teacher for the Milan Adult Education program at the night school, as well as the English and Math teacher at the Milan FCI high school. I have a Master's Degree in Special Education and an undergraduate degree in English Communications. I have always been very passionate about working with struggling students. Even as a child, I was always the first one to befriend other kids and help them with their studies. I have three children: Sarah is an English teacher, Angela is currently getting her doctorate in Public Policy at the University of Chicago, and Tommy graduated with a bachelor's in Environmental Science from the U of M in 2019. This goes to show that education is very important to my family!

    kaminskih@milanareaschools.org

  • Photo of Terry Owings with auburn hair, wearing a teal and blue striped shirt, black vest, and black slacks.

    My name is Terry Owings and I have been teaching here at Milan for 21 years. I currently work with the E2020 program which is an online program where students complete classes for credit that is required for graduation. I also work full time at the University of Michigan as a programmer analyst where I have been for 23 years.

    owingst@milanareaschools.org

  • I'm Kristina Mahaney and I've been teaching at Milan High School for over 12 years. I teach Algebra at both the high school and the night school program. Prior to joining the staff at Milan High School, I taught at Washtenaw Community College for 4 years and Romulus High School for 3 years. I have an undergraduate degree and teaching certification in Mathematics and Physics from EMU and obtained my Masters Degree in Mathematics in 2005.

    mahaneyk@milanareaschools.org

  • Photo of Terri Foreman wearing a white top embroidered with pastel flowers, holding a pencil, writing

    My name is Terri Foreman I am the assistant in the office at Milan Community Education. I work part-time and help with the enrichment program as well as the Adult Education program. I help out wherever it's needed. I sometimes help with Floor Hockey, answering the phone, creating and distributing fliers, making copies and collecting money. Each day I come to work with a different project! My favorite part of the year is Graduation Day! The students work so hard to achieve their goal; it's so important that they have the Milan Adult Education program to attend.

  • Hi, I'm Sarah Argueta, an assistant here at Milan Adult and Community Education. I do work as a data entry specialist, tech advisor, and website maintenance person, as well as perform various office duties as they come up. Working for Milan Adult and Community Education has been such a rewarding experience because I get to see people working hard to achieve goals that they sometimes never thought they could. I love being a part of the community, both in the high school completion program and with all of the wonderful enrichment programs we offer! I am a mom to two littles and am a former high school and middle school English teacher. 

  • Hello, I am Michael McCown, the counselor/student adviser here at Milan Adult Education. I also teach Science at FCI the federal prision in Milan. My main role here at Adult Ed is to support students and guide them towards high school completion. I review their previous transcripts and advise them on what classes they will need to take to earn their high school diploma. I also provide our students with other supports regarding family, life situations, and career paths. I enjoy supporting our students and watching them grow and succeed. Many have overcome a lot to get to the point of graduation. Seeing how proud they are of their accomplishments makes this job very rewarding!