CANFIELD — Dom Fonce, an instructor at the Mahoning County Career and Technical Center Adult Career Center, has been named Adult Educator of the Year for Ohio’s Northeast Region. The award, presented by the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce and the Ohio Department of Higher Education, recognizes exceptional leadership and dedication to advancing adult education across the state.

Fonce will be formally honored at the upcoming Ohio Association for Adult and Continuing Education Conference in Columbus. The distinguished honor reflects Fonce’s commitment to empowering adult learners, many of whom have faced unique barriers and challenges in earning their high school diplomas.

“The success of our programming is a testament to our students, who are extremely motivated to climb the economic and educational ladders, and to our faculty, who deeply want to see our students succeed,” Fonce said.

During the 2024-2025 school year, Fonce served as the Lead Instructor and Adult Diploma Specialist at MCCTC’s Adult Career Center, where he played a pivotal role in expanding the Adult Diploma Program. The program helps adults earn their high school diploma while simultaneously completing training toward an industry-recognized credential.

Under Fonce’s leadership, the Adult Diploma Program experienced remarkable growth. From 2019 to 2023, the program graduated a total of 14 students. In contrast, in 2024 and 2025, 47 students successfully completed the program, a clear reflection of Fonce’s dedication to helping adult learners achieve their academic and career goals.