Local organizations donate Chromebooks to Pascagoula Adult Learning Center

Teaching in a now online world can be almost impossible without any remote resources. This was an issue faced by the Pascagoula Adult Learning Center.

The Pascagoula Adult Learning Center specializes in helping students get their high school diplomas, workforce training, or work force credentials. Their routine changed drastically with the pandemic, having to switch to remote learning while most of their students don’t have online learning resources.  Pascagoula Learning Center Director Katelyn Williams said, “We knew we had to reach out to our community partners for assistance.”

The Bacot McCarty Foundation and Second Chance Mississippi partnered together to assist in the transition. When the adult learning center reached out to Second Chance Mississippi Executive Director Zach Scruggs, he replied: “We’re in. Let’s buy them. So, we bought 20 Chromebooks to help students get the instruction that they can’t get by coming in the regular classroom.”

Prior to COVID-19 this class used to be jam-packed with students. Now class is being taught via Google Meet.

Before the Chromebooks, teachers were giving out homework packets for students to do work at home. Teacher Jan Avery said, “We’ve been able to have our Google Meets and our long distance classrooms. That’s just been awesome.”

Student Diamond Olier earned her G.E.D. Wednesday. She feels like the Pascagoula Adult Learning Center has set her up for success. “They offer so many programs after the fact of graduating from the system that you have no choice but to succeed.”

“When an adult can get a high school equivalency or work course certification, it puts them in the middle class. They can go on and do bigger and better things and we’re very excited to be a part of that,” said Scruggs.