By Jessica Garcia

Crunching numbers comes naturally to NNLC data manager Mike Benson. Every student who walks in through the door and attends orientation has a file created in their name containing essential data such as enrollment information and test results. Benson updates the test results on all of NNLC’s students every morning.

It’s necessary to keep up with the state’s requirements, which often means a longer day for him.
“It wouldn’t be the kind of job you could punch in at 8 and leave at 5 and life would be good,” he said. “I stay until I get what I have to have done.”

The former postmaster-turned-data manager could have entered retirement after 30 years with the postal service, but he decided slowing down wasn’t for him and has found his work with the NNLC highly satisfying.
“There’s a part of me that’s an introvert,” he said with a smile. “I’ve come out of my shell considerably since I’ve been here. I find comfort in numbers. When I find out there’s someone who passed a test, there’s a reward.”
The NNLC always strives to have at least a 50 percent post-test rate, indicating the knowledge students have gained from their instruction. The state of Nevada wants 70 percent, Benson says, but that often means pulling students out of classes to help them make it to that goal. Another challenge is ensuring students are taking the tests when they should, which some don’t always finish if they’ve gone onto jobs or moved away from the program.

“Sometimes you have to strike,” he said.

The staff finds its opportunities to help where it can, too, with babysitting being an issue for some single parents or other obligations that come up while students are studying. Benson said he sees it as NNLC’s responsibility to take care of its special population.

“We are here to support the students, and I am here to support the students and the teachers,” he said. “The data will drive a lot of our success; it’s so important to our productivity. … Our students deserve the best we can give them.”
During Benson’s first year with NNLC, he said 24 graduates earned their high school equivalency. Last year, there were 122 graduates, a 500 percent increase overall.

“Our success is the result of our student’s successes, so we’re certainly depending on our students, and our students deserve the best we can give them,” he said.

He said the great reward is watching the students make it to graduation every eight weeks, a time for the adults to celebrate in full cap and gown and receive the diploma they never had earlier in life along with recognition from Nevada’s senators.
“There’s emotion in there (in the ceremony),” he said. “This is a moment to pause and think, hey, this was all worth it … knowing I did a good job and that even I’m a participant in changing people’s lives.”