Central Georgia Technical College recently named Donna Smith, an Adult Education Division adjunct instructor, as the 2017 Adjunct Instructor of the Year. The announcement came as a part of the College’s awards day ceremony.

The award is given annually to a part-time faculty member who exemplifies outstanding leadership and ability in instruction. Smith was selected by her peers at the College for the award.

Smith has worked with CGTC for five years, beginning as an adjunct for the GED program at Middle Georgia Technical College prior to its merger with CGTC, and continued on teaching in Adult Education at the former Corder Road site.

Smith graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science in Mathematics from Erskine College in Due West, SC., and after having married her husband, an Airforce officer, she decided to pursue teaching because it was a career more conducive to the “moving around” of the military lifestyle. She earned teaching licensure in the early 90’s and carried it with her on routine moves, teaching in high schools in South Carolina, Wyoming, Texas, and Georgia.

Now, Smith works in the innovative Accelerating Opportunity program on the Warner Robins campus.  The AO program helps students transition from adult education studies to technical credit programs.

“I have learned that adult education students often have a unique set of challenges that require teachers to be patient, flexible, and compassionate,” Smith said. “I love my students and learn so much from them. Adult education students are some of the most resilient and persistent people I have ever met.”

Smith found out she won the award, like the rest of her peers, at the Awards Day presentation, where she received a monetary award and a plaque. She said the feeling she got from being recognized far outweighed the tangible awards and although surprised by it all, it meant a lot that her coworkers believed she deserved the recognition.

“My husband has a wall full of awards, so I am very excited to be able to add one of my own to the wall,” Smith said.

Smith works alongside instructors in a division of the college that has garnered many individual and group awards over the past year. The Technical College System of Georgia awarded the Adult Education Division for having the highest number of students in the state earn citizenship through its U.S. citizenship preparation and English, Literacy and Civics programs.

In September, the TCSG also recognized and awarded the Division in five additional areas at the 2016 Adult Education Fall Conference and GED® Awards.

Smith’s teaching efforts will continue in Warner Robins and when she is not teaching, she enjoys time with some of life’s simplest pleasures: family and friends.