Appleton Episcopal Ministries has called Corley Peth as Program Director.

Peth, formerly with Macon’s Stratford Academy, taught history and government for six years at the middle and high school level.  She also served as head coach for both varsity and middle school swim teams. Peth earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Berry College and a Master of Arts  degree in American history from Gettysburg College.

Beginning in 2021, Peth worked as a senior staff member with the Appleton Free To Read Summer Literacy Program for three years, first as a teacher and then as Curriculum Director.

Since joining Appleton as a full-time employee in June 2024, Peth has supervised and implemented this summer’s Free To Read program and recently completed Associate Level training in Orton-Gillingham instruction. Orton Gillingham is a multisensory, structured, phonics-based approach to teaching literacy for children reading below grade level or those diagnosed with dyslexia.

Appleton Missioner Julie Groce said she has known Corley “for more than fifteen years.”

“Her faith-driven interest in social justice and community engagement and her commitment to serving children regardless of their economic background or access to resources are just what Appleton needs to expand our programming across middle Georgia. We are so excited to have her as part of our team,” Groce said.

Adding Peth to the staff allows Appleton to expand its literacy programs to better serve middle Georgia students with year-round academic support, as well as offer parents and guardians support to help children address academic and social issues. Peth will also develop and deliver public programming addressing how we can create and sustain the Beloved Community in partnership with Episcopal parishes and other community organizations across the Middle Georgia Convocation, Groce said.

A Macon native, Peth is a lifelong member of Lutheran Church of the Redeemer (ELCA), said she is excited to be a part of Appleton Episcopal Ministries.

“Every year in my classroom, I found enormous joy teaching about figures who challenged the status quo and chose to magnify the voice of justice for everyday people through advocating for and expanding access to education.

“When I taught American history, the stories of Ida B. Wells, Mary Mcleod Bethune, Septima Poinsette Clark, and Ella Baker were perhaps my most favorite to weave into my curriculum. The inclusion of their stories into traditional historical narratives illustrated the power of the written word, and the importance of literacy and access to education. The work of these women continued to serve as an inspiration in my own journey as an educator.

“I am excited to join Appleton to help expand their literacy programming and help improve access to literacy support in communities within the Middle Georgia Convocation,” Peth said.

Groce said Peth will play a major role in fulfilling Appleton’s mission statement. Sharing God’s love by partnering with parishes in the Middle Georgia Convocation to promote the health, education, safety and well-being of children and families, including young adults.

Groce said Appleton accomplishes its mission by leverage financial resources, in-kind contributions, and volunteer efforts to support a wide variety of community ministries serving God’s people as his hands and feet here on Earth. We approach community ministry in a unique manner.

“We don’t just support individual parish ministries. We also coordinate efforts between parishes in middle Georgia to identify and coordinate resources and create cooperative networks throughout the convocation,” she said.

Those parishes include:  All Angels, Eatonton; St. Stephen’s, Milledgeville; Christ Church, Macon; St. Paul, Macon; St. Francis, Macon; All Saints, Warner Robins; St. Christopher, Perry; St. Andrew’s, Fort Valley; St. Luke’s, Fort Valley; and St. Mary’s, Montezuma. For these efforts, The Episcopal Church has designated Appleton as a Mission Enterprise Zone.

Originally founded as part of the Diocese of Georgia, Appleton is now the oldest outreach ministry in the Diocese of Atlanta. In 1870 Bishop John Beckwith opened the Appleton Church Home on College Street in Macon as an orphanage for the daughters of Confederate soldiers. Administered by an early order of Episcopalian deaconesses, the Home quickly accepted girls from white families regardless of their religion or former military status.

After integrating in the late 1960s, Appleton moved to group home model and later to an outdoor rehabilitation program for teenagers. Appleton ended its residential programs in 1991 and began serving children in Macon and Middle Georgia with afterschool and summer programs.

Appleton’s  headquarters is located in the old Appleton Church Home on College Street, now the Parish House for St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. Today, Appleton supports programs addressing literacy and education, food insecurity, mental health, racial reconciliation, and college campus ministries.