About Us
We are a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting learning and literacy throughout the Shenandoah Valley. Our Mission is to enhance functional literacy skills for adult residents of the central Shenandoah Valley. In addition, we endeavor to improve access to essential community services and to employment and educational opportunities.
History of Skyline
Founded in 1987, Skyline Literacy began as a coalition of several adult literacy efforts, with the goal of serving adult learners with special needs. Skyline Literacy Coalition was serving approximately 100 adult learners at the time. In May of 2008 the agency moved from Dayton to Harrisonburg and assumed the name Skyline Literacy to better reflect the agency’s independent status.
Over the past 13 years, Skyline Literacy has annually served between 250 and 350 adult learners. Skyline Literacy has also offered Citizenship Preparation classes for the same length of time, with an increasing number of people obtaining citizenship every year. Recognizing the continuing need for developing competency in English among the local adult learner population, Skyline Literacy developed a unique instructional approach whose core elements include:
- a focus on the needs of rural areas
- individualized instruction for mobility, flexibility, cost savings and best use of community resources
- reliance on well-educated, trained volunteers
- provision of comprehensive services, including citizenship preparation
- partnering with community agencies for integrated delivery of services
Board Officers
- Laura Zarrugh, President
- Charlette McQuilkin, Vice President
- Stacey Bowers, Treasurer
- Helen Silvis Miller, Secretary
Board Members
- Carmenza Kline
- William Wright
- Lynn Martin
- Grant Richardson
- Ellen Laymen
- Martha Carper
- Esther Minskoff
- Lois Jones
- Gail Fox
- Linda Dove
- Andrew Kohen