Reflecting on the 2026 GED Conference: Momentum Matters 

By: CT Turner

As I reflect on the 2026 GED Conference, one word continues to stand out: MOMENTUM.

Over the course of three days, we brought together state GED administrators, educators, workforce leaders, advocates, partners, and learners from across the country. We shared ideas, celebrated successes, tackled challenges, and explored new opportunities for adult education. But above all, we rallied around a common belief: Momentum Matters.

That message served as a central theme throughout the conference because one reality continues to emerge from the data and from the experiences of the hundreds of thousands of learners we work with every year.

For adult learners, time matters.

Many are balancing jobs, families, financial pressures, transportation challenges, and countless competing responsibilities. Every extra requirement, every delay, every unnecessary hurdle creates friction. And friction can lead to stalled progress.

As the week unfolded, it became clear that momentum isn't created by any one program, policy, or organization. It's created when all of us work together to shorten unnecessary delays and help learners stay on their path.

If we want more learners to persist, earn their credentials, and move into career pathways, then we must ensure that time and policy are working on behalf of learners, not the system. Our collective responsibility is to remove barriers, accelerate pathways, and create more opportunities for adults to succeed.

Throughout the conference, I was inspired by the discussions, collaboration, and shared commitment to learner success. Attendees repeatedly highlighted the value of learning from one another and the strength of the partnerships that continue to drive innovation across adult education.

One topic that generated significant excitement was the GED & Me mobile app. Educators were particularly interested in the new time-tracking capabilities and the growing evidence that learners who engage with the app are experiencing stronger outcomes (like score gains). The enthusiasm reinforced what we believe to be true: when learners have the right tools, support, and guidance at the right moment, momentum grows.

Another unforgettable moment was welcoming Jaymes Black as our keynote speaker and GED alum. Jaymes challenged us to think differently about leadership, opportunity, and the pathways we create for others. The conversations sparked by that keynote extended far beyond the session itself and encouraged all of us to reflect on how we can expand access and possibility for every learner.

One of my greatest honors during the conference was presenting the Molly Broad Award to Shaketta Thomas. Throughout her career, Shaketta has demonstrated extraordinary leadership, particularly in correctional education, while expanding opportunities for learners who are too often overlooked. 

We also had the privilege of celebrating scholarship recipients whose success stories reinforced the power of education to open doors to new careers, greater confidence, and brighter futures.  They are living proof that opportunity can change lives and that adult education remains one of the most powerful pathways to economic mobility.

Beyond the sessions, awards, and presentations, there was another theme I heard again and again from attendees.

Many spoke about the sense of community they experience at this conference. Some were longtime advocates. Others arrived with questions or differing perspectives. Yet the feedback was remarkably consistent: people felt welcomed. They felt supported. They felt the GED team’s momentum. They felt like part of a family.

That reflection means a great deal to me because it speaks directly to who we are as an organization and as a community. The GED mission has always been about opening doors, creating opportunity, and helping people move forward. That work is only possible because of the educators, administrators, partners, employers, and advocates who dedicate themselves to learners every day.

As we conclude another successful conference, I want to thank everyone who attended, presented, sponsored, volunteered, and contributed. Your passion, expertise, and commitment continue to inspire me.

The work ahead remains important. Learners are counting on us to move faster, think bigger, and continue breaking down barriers. If there is one lesson I hope we carry forward from this year's conference, it is that momentum is not something that simply happens.

It is something we create together.

Let's continue to level up. Let's continue to advocate for learners. And let's continue ensuring that momentum is on their side every step of the way.

See you in Las Vegas for the 2027 GED Conference!