Familiar Face, Feb. 17: Reed helps students find fulfilling future through GED program

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Montcalm Elementary Principal Sharon Reed has created a way for the citizens of Montcalm and the surrounding communities to to get another try at completing their education through a GED program.

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February 19, 2012

by Matt Christian Princeton Times The Zope Gazette Sun Feb 19, 2012, 05:00 AM EST

MONTCALM — One local principal is using a valuable life lesson that she learned the hard way to help her community.

Montcalm Elementary Principal Sharon Reed, herself a former dropout, has created a way for the citizens of Montcalm to get another try at completing their education.

In a press release about the program, Reed said, “All I can say is I was young and dumb, I was in love and wanted to get married. The mistake was that I quit school before I got my diploma.”

Now holding a Bachelor's in Education from Bluefield State College, a Master's in Curriculum and Instruction from Marshall University, Reed looks for something to redeem a person.

“Whenever I have a meeting with a child or a parent, I try to find at least one good thing about that child. Whenever you have something that you can pull out as a positive for a child that builds their self-esteem. A lot of kids have low self-esteem but if you can help them to find that one special thing that they can do, they will feel better about themselves,” Reed said.

One of Reed's teachers played a large part in that philosophy.

She said, “Two of the biggest influences as far as teachers go are Mrs. Bailey and Ms. Cooper. It was like they really cared about each individual child.”

To help others follow, her path of redemption with a caring approach, Reed created a GED class in Montcalm.

“I know that there are others in the county but for someone that's in Montcalm, Bramwell, or Matoaka, we may be a better option so that they don't have to drive all the way to Princeton or Bluefield,” Reed said.

She continued, “The change in my life has been a very positive and fulfilling change. This program is one way for people to do give their children a better life. Everyone wants to give their children a better life.”

Also, Reed is a native of the Montcalm area.

“It really helps for me to be from the area. There are kids that come that I know their parents and I know them. It really helps to have a familiar face.”

Growing up in the McComas area, Reed attended Pinnacle Elementary, which she calls a three-room schoolhouse. Reed continued to progress through the Montcalm feeder system of the time until she fell in love leading her to drop out of school.

Needless to say, another of her passions is keeping children in school.

Reed said, “There's really no limit to what a child can do as long as they stay in school. I think the new truancy program is awesome. We always try to get a child to stay in school.”

For more information about the GED program contact Montcalm Elementary at 304-589-5202. The GED classes are on Mondays from 5 p.m.- 8 p.m.

— Contact Matt Christian at mchristian@ptonline.net

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Familiar Face, Feb. 17: Reed helps students find fulfilling future through GED program

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