Dorchester School District Four

District, community, and organizational leaders, including Dorchester School District Four, joined Dorchester County Adult Education this week to celebrate Family Literacy Week and to see firsthand the impact of the program.

Dorchester County Adult Education offers GED and High School Diploma programs with both day and evening classes. They also provide English as a Second Language classes, computer and digital literacy instruction, and WIN/WorkKeys testing for jobs that require certification. Their mission is simple but powerful: help adults strengthen basic skills, become self-sufficient, and equip parents to better support their children’s education.

A highlight of the visit was hearing from graduate Latrice Collier, who shared her journey of raising children, working, and taking classes all at once. She recalled the night she was cooking dinner while anxiously waiting for her math scores to post online. When she saw she had passed, she knew she was graduating. That moment of joy, she said, became a turning point not just for her but also for her family. She has inspired her mother to continue her own education, showing how one achievement can ripple across generations.

Guests toured classrooms in action and spoke with instructors. Many students worked independently on different assignments, while teachers moved seamlessly between subjects. Instructors described how rewarding it is to guide students through such diverse lessons, and how inspired they feel by the determination of their learners. In one ESL class, about twenty students from countries including China, Mexico, and Venezuela introduced themselves in English, with some having only started classes three or four weeks ago. The passion of the staff and the drive of the students were easy to see.

The Adult Education team is led by Director Wramie Spafford, Administrator Natasha Prosser, Program Coordinator Renee Rivers, College and Career Navigator Tonya Hall, Testing Coordinator John Speer, Administrative Assistant Najeema Freeman, and Financial Administrative Assistant Yvonne Russell. Instructors include Cecile Bryant, Jennifer Roberts, Lia Locklair, Kevin Burke, and Rebecca Carter.

The program continues to grow through partnerships with the David Sojourner Senior Citizens Center, REV Federal Credit Union, Berkeley Charleston Dorchester Council of Governments, South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce, SC Works Trident WIOA, Dorchester County Economic Development, Dorchester County Career and Technology Center, Dorchester County Library, and many others. These collaborations expand opportunities and provide students with the tools they need to succeed both in school and in the workforce.

The visit ended with a celebration that perfectly matched the spirit of Family Literacy Week. Students, staff, instructors, and guests spilled out into the street for a dance party, dressed in bright yellow shirts and sunglasses. Laughter, music, and movement filled the air, leaving everyone with a clear message: learning is powerful, perseverance pays off, and community makes all the difference.