Dr. Mary A. Maness Gaston, Ed.D., served as director for her local South Carolina Adult Ed program from 2001-2017. She was also the director of one of South Carolina’s four Regional Adult Education Technical Assistance Centers from 2009-2017, coordinating and providing professional development to other programs. The remainder of her 28 years in the school district were spent as coordinator of Family Literacy, high school teacher, and elementary teacher. Although retired, she works part-time for SC Adult Education and as a LINCS trainer.
 
Dr. Gaston earned a Doctor of Education degree from Nova Southeastern University, where she received the Outstanding Dissertation Award for her work, “Integrating Technology Into the Adult Education Classroom.” She was named the SC Adult Ed Director of the Year twice, the COABE Administrator of the Year (2018), and a Governor’s SC Year of the Child Hero (2001). Mary’s heroes are her parents; they were both GED graduates who exemplified the power of education. She is passionate about providing opportunities for people to build better futures. Dr. Gaston is the mother of two adult children and has three grandchildren. She resides with her husband of 40 years just outside of Easley, South Carolina.