September is National Literacy Month, and in recognition, South Piedmont is celebrating its Literacy Services program.
“We are deeply honored to do the work that we do,” said South Piedmont Literacy Services Director RJ Lightsey.
“We help unlock the written word for our students, and in doing so, help them reach their own personal literacy goals. They may want to read a book to their grandchild. They may want to be able to read a menu in a restaurant. Maybe they want to be able to fill out a job application or read and write well enough to attend college. Whatever their goal, we help them reach it at South Piedmont. That’s worth celebrating not only during National Literacy Month, but all year long.”
South Piedmont’s Literacy Services program was established in 2022 to serve adults in Anson and Union counties who are seeking to improve their reading, writing, and communication skills.
The program matches students with local tutors, many of whom are retired educators. The tutors and students decide on a tutoring schedule, and then they work together to reach the student’s individual literacy goals. Typically, tutors and students meet once or twice a week for at least six months.
All literacy services are provided at no charge to the student.
Since the program was established, it has recruited 29 tutors and assisted 57 students.
Reflecting on the program, Lightsey provided several examples of its success.
“Some students use an online software program as part of their instruction. As a result, they are becoming not only more literate but also more computer literate. Those are skills that they can apply to furthering their education, advancing in the workforce, and their day-to-day lives. That’s deeply gratifying,” he said.
“We also had a student who enrolled on July 31, 2023, and tested at a Level 1 in reading. Three months later, she tested at a Level 2. The news increased her confidence in being capable of improving her reading and comprehension skills. In March 2023, we honored another student for her excellent attendance, participation, and assignment completion since she enrolled in June 2022.”
Lightsey added:
“We also had a student from Ukraine enroll in the program in March of this year. She wanted to prepare for job interviews by brushing up on her pronunciation. After eight weeks of tutoring, she interviewed and was hired as an instructor at Wingate University. Another student has progressed to the point of reading out loud in a group setting.”
It’s not just students who reap the benefits of participating in South Piedmont’s Literacy Services program.
“Many of our tutors are retired educators who know the importance of education and have some spare time to make a difference in someone’s life. They also feel the need to fill a void in their lives by doing something good in the community. They find the experience very rewarding,” Lightsey said.
Literacy Services are available to any adult in Anson or Union counties. The program is also always recruiting tutors. To become a tutor, an individual must hold a high school diploma or equivalent and be committed to helping others learn.
To participate in South Piedmont’s Literacy Services program, either as a student or a tutor, contact Ligthsey at rlightsey@spcc.edu.