Living, learning, and teaching on a South Carolina sea island.

What happens when two naive, newly-minted teachers go off to teach on a barrier island without a bridge? 

Living on an island where just getting groceries can depend on the tide, newlyweds Jim and Carol Alberto started teaching students in the small wooden schoolhouse on Daufuskie Island, South Carolina. 

They soon discovered that the kids were well adapted to island existence but unprepared for classroom learning. 

Little did the Albertos know how much they, too, would learn during their nine-year adventure, especially when it came to survival skills.

Throw away those college diplomas … the real education was about to begin!

“This fascinating book tells a rare, unvarnished, important story of a committed teacher. Jim Alberto’s pivotal experiences while teaching at the two-room school on Daufuskie Island with wife Carol is an extraordinary example of courage, caring, and perseverance. From his depiction of the Island’s distinct smell in the first chapter to his deep exhale to contentment in the last chapter, Jim’s detailed account will enthrall readers on every page.” - Emory S. Campbell, Gullah Cultural Historian, Hilton Head Island, SC

“Refreshing is the word that comes to mind when I think of Jim and Carol coming to Daufuskie. They had quite an effect on the children and all the community. Daufuskie Daze tells the story in a wonderful way.” - Emily and Lancy (Bob) Burn, third generation Daufuskie Islander

Author and Photographer Jim Alberto comes by his idiosyncrasies naturally, having been born at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds where he was exposed to heavy metals and hazardous chemicals. In 1973, he graduated from the University of South Carolina and his long love affair with the Lowcountry and his “cell-mate” Carol commenced. After his nine-year “honeymoon” and stint teaching on secluded Daufuskie Island, he finished his teaching career on the mainland, sharing his passion for history with his many students and with anyone else who was willing to listen. Jim now resides on Hilton Head.

Author: Jim Alberto
ISBN: 978-1-938417-56-6
6 x 9 in.
272 pages
Hardcover with Dust Jacket