Southwest Georgia Institute of Education celebrates fall 2023 graduation, offers ‘second chance’ at getting high school diploma

ALBANY — The last time Rodrica Davis Jawaad was in school was 1990 — the year he was meant to graduate high school.

Getting his high school diploma was a lifelong dream for the 50-year-old Albany native. It finally came to fruition Dec. 15 as Jawaad walked across the stage, clad in a blue cap and gown, to accept a certificate from the Southwest Georgia Institute of Education. He was joined in the ceremony by his two teenage children. The three of them graduated high school as a unit.

The Southwest Georgia Institute of Education is a private high school, accredited by the Georgia Accredited Commission since 2001. It is a nontraditional school that offers a second chance at getting an accredited high school diploma for ninth- through 12th-graders as well as adults who dropped out of high school and want to go back to receive their degree, Tiffany Smith, the head of the school, said.

“This was one of the things on my bucket list — going back and completing my high school education,” Jawaad said.

Jawaad has spent the better part of his career working as a store manager for a retail grocery store. He began seriously thinking about getting his diploma 15 years ago, but it was his kids’ — Brendaja Mingo, 18, and Carlos Mingo, 16 — idea to do it all together.

The teens’ schooling was interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, Brendaja Mingo said. After the pandemic, both students decided traditional schooling wasn’t for them. Now, they are both graduating high school earlier than their expected dates. The school presents a great opportunity, she said.

“To have something like this is great because everybody can’t sit and go through high school,” Mingo said. “Everybody has different problems and needs.”

Opportunity is the focus of the institution, Smith said: to give people a second chance of getting their diploma and to also increase their job opportunities after. It’s important to give older adults or high school dropouts a second chance at graduating; she added. It gives people a sense of being.

“A lot of people are at a standstill because they don’t have a high school education,” Smith said. “The main thing that my students tell me is ‘I can’t wait to get this high school diploma and get a better job.’”

The Southwest Georgia Institute of Education means better jobs for people locally, she said.

“With there being more high school graduates, we can have more businesses and just have a better way of living around here,” Smith said. “It will bring more money to the economy. We need more money here in this economy.”

In the Dougherty County School System, high school graduation rates dropped from about 85% to about 83%in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the school district’s site. The rate has since grown to 88% in 2023, higher than the state average of 84.4%.

Smith said she hopes to raise awareness for the school so more people know it exists. She also hopes more institutions like it can exist. Smith bought the school in March 2022. Since then, she’s been serving as the sole teacher, administrator, finance person and records keeper.

“It’s been very hectic for me trying to do everything on my own, but it’s worked,” Smith said.

She said she plans to add more staff in the next session beginning in January, including two new teachers so Smith can focus on administrative efforts.

There are two sessions per year. One runs from January to May and the other from June to December. They regularly have 60-80 students, she said.

Smith teaches in-person classes at 107 N. Mock Road in Albany Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings. These resemble a traditional format.

“You come in, and we are engaged in the learning process together,” Smith said.

She also offers a virtual session on Thursdays during which students can attend through Zoom but still be engaged by watching the board and asking questions. The virtual session makes it easier for working adults to attend, she said.

Cost to attend the school is $200 a month with flexible payment options for students to pay bi-weekly. Smith said she hopes to one day offer scholarships to students in need.

She plans to work on increasing awareness of the school in the new year. She’s looking into getting billboards placed around southwest Georgia and is looking to increase community partnerships, she said.

“I’m sure there are a lot of people that need the service, but they don’t even know that we’re here,” Smith said. “While Albany Tech does have a high school equivalency program, which is a GED, it’s totally different from having an accredited high school diploma.”

It’s important to have a variety of options for everyone in the area, she said.

“When people are ready to make that leap of faith … to do better for themselves, we’re here to help,” Smith said.

The Dec.15 graduation celebrated 30 students who took that leap of faith.

December 2023 graduates included Eliz Brown, Jadin Brown, Jakyan Brown, Rodrica Davis, Kimberly Dowell, Markell Isaac, Kinyoco Jenkins, Kimberly Jung, Jajuan King, Donte Knight, Lucrese Lewis, Demecio Lopez, Olympia Lopez, Shandrica Lunsford, Brendaja Mingo, Carlos Mingo, Shane’Qua Morris, Jennerfree Myles, Tanya Price, Steven Robinson, Lashanda Shealy, Memphis Shealy, Erica Stamper, Kadarrious Terrell, Desiree Tinsley, Antonio Weston, Ryleigh Williams, Sheera WIlliams, Callisha Wilson and Ta’niyah Wright.

Families and friends filled the Dougherty Comprehensive High School auditorium at 6 p.m. Friday. They carried balloons and flowers and sported shirts with congratulatory prints of graduates on them.

Christina Brown, mom of graduate Jadin Brown, followed her son around, adjusting his robe and fiddling with his cap that read “just do it.” The 17-year-old had trouble in regular high school, she said. The Southwest Georgia Institute of Education allowed the teen to graduate early. He was able to easily adjust to the school’s style of teaching, she said.

Christina Brown said she was overwhelmed but excited to see her son graduate.

Rodrica Davis Jawaad was one of the first to walk across the stage. Smith had to stop him for a photo opportunity.

The 50-year-old said he isn’t sure what the future holds. He may get a business degree, he said. But he noted the Southwest Georgia Institute of Education opened up an array of possibilities for him.

Brendaja Mingo plans to go to school for nursing and Carlos Mingo to Albany Technical College for welding. The three agreed it felt like an amazing accomplishment to graduate together.

Jajuan King, the Institute’s valedictorian, said in his speech he convinced his mom to let him leave public school and enroll in the Institute.

“Sometimes you have to listen to yourself and know what’s right for you, although it might not be traditional or picture perfect,” King said. “It’s not about how you get there, as long as you get there.”

Registration for the January 2024 session is open now. Classes begin Jan. 8. Those interested in the Southwest Georgia Institute of Education can visit its site: www.swgiedu.org.

Staff Photo: Lucille Lannigan[email protected]
Staff Photo: Lucille Lannigan[email protected]