Carol Seichter, Basic Skills Instructor, has been a fixture at Blackhawk Technical College since November 2000. She was initially hired as a part-time instructor for the High School Equivalency Diploma (HSED) classes. In 2001, she was hired full-time as a General Educational Development (GED) and HSED educator teaching at the Rock County Jail.
Over the years, her classroom locations have varied. She taught at the jail until 2012, then at the Rock County Job Center from 2012 to 2019. After that, she moved to Blackhawk’s Beloit-Janesville campus to teach from 2019 until the present. She has also taught at the Beloit Public Library since 2023. From 2021 until 2023, she also added a section of Shop Mathematics 1 each semester at the Beloit-Janesville campus and the Milton campus.
“What I enjoy most is supporting students from my community in achieving their goals,” Carol said. “It’s incredibly rewarding to encounter former students in public and hear how earning a credential has positively impacted their lives.”
Helping in Wisconsin’s prison system
After Carol graduated from New Mexico State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education, she and her husband moved back to their home state of Wisconsin.
“I started my teaching career as a substitute teacher and as a teacher’s aide,” she said. “My first full-time teaching position was as a seventh-grade math teacher.”
At that time, her husband was a correctional officer.
“One day, he informed me that there were teaching positions available in the state prison system, and he encouraged me to apply,” she said.
Carol was hired by the Wisconsin Department of Corrections and taught GED/HSED classes for six years at the Oshkosh Correctional Institution and Taycheedah Correctional Institution.
“That is where I found my passion for helping students obtain their high school equivalency credentials,” she said.
Moving to Janesville
“In 2000, my husband and I moved from the Fox Valley area to his hometown of Janesville. I had planned to be a stay-at-home mom, but I missed being in the workforce and teaching GED/HSED,” Carol said. “When I saw the part-time instructor position for teaching HSED classes to high school alternative education students at Blackhawk, I knew that position was the perfect fit for me.”
Supporting students
Carol’s work with students has brought her a sense of achievement and pride.
“I take the greatest pride in supporting students on their journey toward achieving their goals. Many initially lacked confidence, and I helped them recognize their potential and believe in themselves. Many of these students not only earned a high school credential, but also enrolled in college courses,” she said. “I am also proud of my contributions to the GED/HSED program, including creating a Blackboard course for GED/HSED Orientation and helping to improve Blackhawk’s participants' Measurable Skills Gains performance.”
Even in the face of major changes, Carol stood strong in her support for students, including when the GED tests underwent an overhaul in 2014 from paper and pencil to computer-based. It also became more expensive
“Students who started their GED testing before 2014 but did not finish had to start over. During this time, we started utilizing additional options for students to obtain their HSED, which include credit for prior learning and competency-based options,” she said.
Moving to retirement
“I have so many great memories,” Carol shared. “I cannot think of anything I would have done differently.”
She will also miss the people.
“I’ll miss the daily interactions with students and colleagues, and I’ll miss the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of students.”
While it may feel bittersweet, Carol said she plans to make the most of her retirement.
“I'm excited to have more time for the hobbies and activities I love, such as hunting, fishing, hiking, gardening, and cooking,” she said.
Carol and her husband live on a five-acre farmette with their English setter dog and several chickens.
“I have several large flower and vegetable gardens,” she said. “And caring for them can feel like a full-time job, but I enjoy sharing the extra vegetables I grow with family, friends and local food pantries.”
She also has a special project this year.
“I will be attempting to grow some of the flowers for my son’s October wedding,” she said.
Carol has two adult children who now live in the Minneapolis area. She is looking forward to visiting family more often and enjoying more time at the family’s cabin in northern Wisconsin.
Wrapping up at Blackhawk
“I feel that Blackhawk offers more flexible learning options than most other colleges,” Carol said.
Her advice to students getting started at Blackhawk is simple:
“Don’t be afraid to ask questions! There are a lot of supportive people who work at Blackhawk who are willing to help. Stay positive, be adaptable and believe in yourself. With dedication and persistence, you can achieve your goals.”