Meet Samantha
Samantha Dailey is a Marion County native who spent her formative years on a farm where she was involved in raising thoroughbred horses and Angus cattle. She was an active member of Marion County 4-H and participated in the Southeastern Youth Fair for many years, developing a deep appreciation for the value of community involvement and leadership.
Samantha attended the University of Florida, where she earned a degree in Animal Sciences, followed by a Master of Agribusiness in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Today, she works as a REALTOR® at Showcase Properties of Central Florida, where she applies her deep knowledge of the local community and her passion for helping others to assist clients in finding their dream homes.
In addition to her work as a REALTOR®, Samantha is a dedicated member of the Junior League of Ocala. As a group of accomplished women committed to making a difference in their local community, the Junior League provides Samantha with a platform to give back through effective leadership and action. For Samantha, being involved in an organization like the Junior League is a meaningful way to contribute to the continued growth and success of Ocala and Marion County.
--- ABOUT THE LITERACY COUNCIL ---
OUR MISSION: The Marion County Literacy Council enriches quality of life for adults in Ocala and Marion County by helping them build and improve their literacy skills. Our programs and services enhance people’s personal and professional circumstances—and create opportunity for them—one word at a time.
OUR VISION: The Marion County Literacy Council envisions an inclusive, equitable community in which every adult knows how to read and write capably and with confidence. We are committed to helping every adult acquire skills that will empower them to engage fully with, contribute to, and flourish within our community. We aspire to be a model provider of world-class literacy education in Ocala, greater Marion County, and beyond—and a place that makes a positive difference in people’s lives.
OUR SERVICES: The Marion County Literacy Council offers adult literacy services in the form of three core programs: Adult Basic Education (helping adults learn how to read and write); GED (helping adults earn their GEDs); and ESOL (helping adults become more capable, more confident speakers of English). We offer these services at our main downtown location, and also at a variety of locations across Marion County.
OUR WHY: In Marion County, an estimated 1 in 5 adults cannot read above a fifth-grade level. This means that everyday tasks that most of us take for granted are difficult for many adults in our community. Simple tasks such as paying a bill, helping a child with homework, grocery shopping, filling out a job application, or reading a prescription are overwhelming. It has also been shown that, on average, 100 hours of adult literacy education can raise a person’s annual income by as much as $10,000.
The Marion County Literacy Council serves and supports people in Ocala and Marion County who, historically, have been underserved or left behind. Our students are majority women (75%), they are majority people of color (60%), many of them live in rural and underserved communities, and almost all of them come from socio-economically disadvantaged families.
Low literacy is costly not only to individuals and families, but also to employers and to our community more broadly. Individuals with low literacy struggle to find employment and they often settle for low-paying jobs while fighting to increase their earning power to support their families. Perhaps most heartbreaking is the long-term effect that parents’ low literacy has on their children. Low literacy is an intergenerational ill: the strongest indicator of a child’s success in school is that child's mother’s level of education. By having the courage to seek our services, our students are trying to break the cycle of low education and poverty. The goal of the Marion County Literacy Council is to help aspiring adults in our community – especially those who are socio-economically disadvantaged – improve their quality of life by giving them critical tools to build better, happier lives for themselves and their families.