Cordele —  In today’s society it is increasingly difficult to obtain a decent job without a proper education. There are many young people who are not completing school for various reasons and as they grow older, they often have no options and nowhere to turn.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

As adult literacy coordinator for LEARNetwork, Sharon Daniel is reaching out to those in need of a helping hand to get them back on track.

Daniel, who assumed her position in May, worked as a teacher for 12 years. Part of that time was spent at Crisp County Middle School. The last five years she worked with the alternative school.

“I wanted to continue working with at risk students, helping them get on track,” she said.

“We offer GED training, for which I come up with the curriculum,” she said. “I recruit students and teach classes. I also supervise a part time teacher, Georgia York, who is absolutely wonderful. She worries about the students as much as I do.”

Daniel says that currently there are two day classes offered for GED training and one at night, but she hopes to be adding a second night class soon. There are about 58 students taking classes right now with an average of about 15-20 students per class.

“We try to help the students in any way that we can,” she said. “Some of them have transportation problems or trouble procuring a baby-sitter so they can attend class.

“We normally do not encourage bringing kids to class but sometimes there is no other choice. There is always a need for help with transportation and baby-sitting.”

Another obstacle that faces some of Daniel’s students is paying for the actual test when it is time to take the GED. Students who live in the housing authority, she said, can apply for a grant to cover the cost of the test, which is $19 per section or $95 for the entire test.

“It may not sound like much to some people,” Daniel said. “However when you are unemployed or just scraping by on minimum wage, it can be a lot.

“I do spend some time working to solicit funds from the public. We have been fortunate that a local church group known as Men on the Move has helped fund some of the testing.”

Daniel credits a great deal of the success of the program to having such a wonderfully supportive boss.

“Susan Boike is the head of the housing authority,” she said. “She always makes sure that we have everything we need here for the students.

“I asked about new computers and Susan secured not only new computers but a web-based program for students to work on to aide them in their studies. Whatever the need she figures out a way to meet it. All the people at the housing authority are very supportive.”

Daniel said the program does not just end when a student passes the GED. She wants to see her students continue on to success, by helping them continue their education or assisting with job searches.

“We encourage school first, of course,” she said. “It is so difficult to live on just a minimum wage job. Growing up I was lucky enough to have a strict mother. If not I would not be where I am today. I want to help those who may not have had that growing up.”

It was through that support that Daniel earned a B.S. from Georgia Southwestern in middle grade education, then later her masters  in elementary education from Troy State University in Alabama.

She is currently working on her doctorate in curriculum and instruction from the University of Phoenix online. As far as what the future may hold for Daniel, she says she sees herself staying right where she is.

“I love every minute of my job,” she says. “I see myself retiring from here when I am too old and decrepit to do anything.”

Daniel says she lives each day with the FROG philosophy. FROG is an abbreviation for Fully Rely On God. She has a wide collection of frogs to remind her to always turn things over to God.

“When we remember to turn things over to God, everything else just kind of falls into place.”

Daniel resides in Cordele and is the daughter of R.L. and Nell Garrett of Cordele. She is married to Kevin Daniel and they have one daughter and three grandchildren.