Billy Smith was honored as Savannah Technical College’s Outstanding Teacher of the Year for the Adult Education program last week at the Dinah Culbreath Wayne EAGLE program. Launched in 1993, the Exceptional Adult Georgian in Literacy Education (EAGLE) program celebrates adult learners in pursuit of excellence.

Smith has taught Adult Education classes as the lead teacher at Coastal State and Effingham County prisons since 2011. His students have achieved above average results, leading Georgia Department of Corrections outcomes statewide.

“Mr. Smith is an extremely reliable and high performing instructor, who makes learning engaging,” said STC President Dr. Kathy Love. “His creativity and compassion with his students make him truly exceptional.”

He is a STC graduate (Marketing & Management), who earned a Bachelor of Science in history from Savannah State University and master’s degrees in adult education (2002) and special education (2005) from Armstrong Atlantic State University.

This year, 25 outstanding teacher honorees from the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG), school system, and community-based organization providers were celebrated on March 14-15 during the Dinah Culbreath Wayne EAGLE program. Teachers engaged with each other through networking activities, recorded public service announcements that will be used to promote Adult Education services over the next year, and were treated to a professional development, “Time Management for Educators: Creating More Time, Balance, and Peace.”

Savannah Tech’s Adult Education Program serves those who need to improve their basic literacy and math skills, improve their oral and written English, practice for the GED® test to attain a high school equivalency degree, and prepare for college. Instructors also help students with science and social studies test preparation for GED® testing. STC teaches adult education classes in the morning, afternoon, evening and online. They are offered in Bryan, Chatham, Effingham and Liberty Counties with multiple locations in each community. Adult education classes for GED®-prep are currently free for all U.S. citizens. To register for free GED® classes, call 912.443.5446 or visit www.savannahtech.edu/FreeGEDClasses. For GED® testing information, go to www.ged.com to sign up to take test or go to www.savannahtech.edu/testingcenter to learn more about our testing locations.

Savannah Technical College serves Coastal Georgia with quality, market-driven technical education with campus locations in Chatham, Effingham and Liberty Counties. Serving more than 10,000 credit and non-credit students annually, Savannah Tech offers nearly 150 different instructional programs in Aviation Technology, Business and Professional Services, Industrial Technology, and Health Sciences in addition to Adult Education classes, industry-specific training and continuing education. The College serves as an economic and community development partner for the region, offering corporate and customized training and assessment programs for business and industry.

Savannah Technical College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate degrees, diplomas and technical certificates of credit. Questions about the accreditation of Savannah Technical College may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org).