A feature

about people

whose work

touches our lives

Lou

Hanley

Volunteer teacher at Teach My People in Pawleys Island

Bio:

Native of

Connecticut

Graduate of

University of Connecticut, retired teacher

Lou Hanley, known by many as simply “Miss Lou,’’ is a veteran school teacher who moved to Georgetown County about six years ago.

She is a native of Glastonberry, Conn. but has lived in St. Augustine and Naples, Fla. She has also lived in Chicago, Ill.

She was a teacher at the American School for the Deaf. She taught the deaf for 28 years as a communications specialist.

She has also taken special classes at the University of Southern California.

She enjoys teaching new skills to children at Teach My People, an after-school program for at-risk children. The school is located on Waverly Road, on the Waccamaw Neck.

It keeps expanding to include new grades each year, Hanley said, which gives more children a chance to grow.

What do you do at Teach my People?

I do enrichment. That can range from reading to math, music and art. Each Tuesday afternoon there is a different program. They call us Lou’s crew, because there are four of us.

What is the best part of your job?

Relating to the children. I love to see them coming in the door. I’m so impressed with the community of Georgetown. A lot of people send volunteers to help out at Teach my People.

We’re a Christian-based program. We’re working on sharing right now, sharing with other children and their families.

What have you gained from the experience at Teach my People?

I’ve gained wonderful friendships and positive reinforcement from the children.

It’s fun to watch the kids grow.

What kind of positive reinforcement?

A smile, a hug. Being able to cooperate and do the activity I put forth for them.

How did you find out about Teach My People?

I found out about Teach My People through my church, St. Cyprian’s. Plus, I could see it here. I live in Ricefields. I wanted to be part of the program.

I also volunteer at the soup kitchen at St. Cyprian’s, Miss Ruby’s Kids and I’m a volunteer at Georgetown Memorial Hospital.

What would you like to see next for Teach My People?

I think it’s wonderful to see the growth. 

We get our money in donations and grants.

Hopefully, we can grow with the generosity of people in Georgetown County.

— as told to Kelly M. Fuller