About Us
We are a nonprofit, tax-exempt, 501(3) organization located in Horry County (Myrtle Beach area), South Carolina. We are literacy advocates, providing 2 hours each week of free tutoring for school-age children to adults who struggle with basic reading, writing, and math.
Our Mission: Literacy
Our mission is to improve the literacy of youth and adults in our community by teaching/tutoring basic literacy skills for those who struggle with reading, writing and math.
Our Purpose and Vision
Making an impact, through literacy, on our community
Our purpose is to provide free tutoring to school-age children and adults in Horry County who struggle with reading, writing or math. We will significantly impact the literacy rates our area through volunteers working one-to-one with our clients using strength-based language and evidence-based instructional materials and strategies.
Our vision is to produce higher literacy rates in Horry County and be the center of the community for literacy education and training.
Our Core Values
What is T.E.A.C.H.?
We build trusting relationships with our students and our volunteers. We are a secular organization that welcomes all. We believe trust is the foundation for every relationship and we work hard to maintain it.
We pride ourselves in providing excellence in instruction through our well-trained volunteers and the high-quality programs we use. Our founding members are educators with extensive experience and research in the areas of learning.
We work on accountability consistently.
Our Board of Directors meetings are open to the public and are held at libraries throughout Horry County. Our “home” library is Chapin Memorial Library. Our meetings are held on the second Wednesday of every month, 5:00 pm – 6:30 pm.
Our volunteers report the progress of their students on the 1st of every month.
We are listed on GuideStar as well. GuideStar is “an information service specializing in reporting on U.S. nonprofit companies.”
Palmetto Literacy Council partners with several organizations throughout Horry County. We look for partners where we can help their constituents and they can help us. Our list of PARTNERS is growing.
We believe in honesty and integrity in everything we do. Our goal is to be transparent and open. We have no secrets and we hold confidentiality as a cornerstone of what we do.
Dodi Hodges, Ph.D.
Executive Director and Founder
Dr. Hodges is an author, educator, & speaker. She was a founding member of Palmetto Literacy Council. She is passionate about children and adults learning to read, write, and do math. Her life and career have centered around those who struggle with learning and finding ways for everyone to learn.
She has been a teacher educator at Coastal Carolina University, Bowling Green State University, Indiana University-Bloomington, & Western Michigan University. Her research has included implementing strategies in reading & mathematics for struggling learners.
Dr. Hodges’ extensive experience includes: tenured Associate Professor at Coastal Carolina University, Director of CeTEAL (faculty development center at CCU), tenure-line faculty member at Bowling Green State University, the Disabilities and Mental Health Coordinator a county Head Start program, a consultant for the Michigan Head Start Association, a special educator for children with behavioral and emotional issues, and a corporate trainer.
Dr. Hodges earned her Master’s degree and Ph.D. at Indiana University-Bloomington focusing on organizational change through collaboration/teaming, leadership, & curriculum & instruction.
