CAEAA Member Spotlight: Sherri Watkins

Sherri Watkins, Executive Director of the State Center Adult Education Consortium (SCAEC), has dedicated 25 years to advancing adult education and now leads the largest consortium in the state by membership. With a team of just seven, Sherri oversees support for four community colleges, 15 adult schools, and two regional occupational programs. Her leadership has fostered a strong network of transition specialists who guide students into college and the workforce, along with experts in data, accountability, and site-level support to keep the consortium aligned, compliant, and student-centered. Sherri also serves as a facilitator for the CAEP Leadership Academy, mentoring and training new consortium leads across California.

Among her proudest achievements is the creation of the annual College Showcase, which brings together outreach teams, counselors, deans, faculty, community-based organizations, and workforce partners to share resources and strengthen collaboration. What began seven years ago with just 20 participants has now grown to more than 100 attendees, building connections that have led to warmer handoffs and more coordinated student transitions. For Sherri, the most rewarding moments are seeing accomplishment in the eyes of students who once doubted themselves, and knowing that adult education not only changes individual lives but also the trajectory of entire families.

Sherri’s advice to new administrators reflects her relational approach: be flexible, put yourself in your students' shoes, and create a culture where staff and learners alike feel valued. She encourages leaders to celebrate diversity through food, heritage, and shared experiences, reminding us that adult education is “the best-kept secret in education” and that every opportunity to build connection makes a difference. Her own story reflects that lesson — having worked 107 different jobs since she was 13, she’s learned the value of building relationships, gaining skills, and using every experience to strengthen the community she serves today.

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