Learn from peers about best practices and innovative ideas being put into action at literacy programs across our great state. Best of Texas brings together local experts to share their wisdom and experience – and maybe help us all avoid a few pitfalls along the way.

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Basic details

About this month’s topic

Guests this month

Online registration

Special thanks

BASIC DETAILS

This online session will be held on:

Thursday, March 27, from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM (CT).

The Zoom room will open at 9:50 AM.

Please arrive on time – the Zoom room will close to late arrivals 30 minutes after the session begins.

This session will focus on the specific needs of adults in Adult Basic Education and equivalent literacy programs.

This online learning session is offered free of charge to Texas nonprofit professionals who work in the fields of adult and family literacy.

ABOUT THIS MONTH'S TOPIC

This discussion will focus on the specific needs of ABE students. ABE students have very particular needs – but because there are fewer of them in adult literacy programs than ESL students, they can be overlooked.

We want to rectify that with a special focus on ABE this month. Come along to this session to learn more from some innovative programs making a difference in Texas.

GUESTS THIS MONTH

Charmyn Tumey
Director, Adult Education and Literacy
Kilgore College-Longview

Charmyn Tumey, MBA, empowers under-educated adults through free educational and job training opportunities as the Director of Kilgore College’s Adult Education and Literacy program. A Longview native and Pine Tree High School graduate, Charmyn is deeply committed to her community, serving on numerous boards and organizations focused on education and development. Her passion for service was instilled by her mother, who emphasized using one’s talents to uplift others and transform lives.

Charmyn’s career path has been diverse, spanning from her childhood in a blended family and time spent in Germany, to a career in fashion merchandising and sales. Despite initially resisting a career in education due to her family’s background in the field, a professor’s question during her MBA studies sparked a change of heart. Leading the Adult Education and Literacy Program at Kilgore College has proven transformative, allowing her to combine her passion for education with her desire to make a tangible difference, all while raising her two children. Her journey exemplifies the power of embracing unexpected opportunities and the profound impact of service.

Lisa Stewart
Executive Director
Literacy Coalition of Central Texas

Lisa M. Stewart, MBA, CAE, is the Literacy Coalition of Central Texas’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Literacy Coalition provides adult basic education, high school equivalency certification, career readiness, job training, parenting, and school readiness services to adults and families in Central Texas. Stewart grew up in Pasadena, Texas, and moved to Central Texas in 2018 after working thirteen years in Washington, DC.

Stewart’s role today elevates her passion for literacy and education by helping the Central Texas community grow, thrive, and achieve livable employment. Since taking her role, Stewart has led the organization through transition and structural changes related to funding and services. Under her leadership, the organization transitioned into a community-based service model, increased funding with state, city, and foundation partners, and remodeled curriculum to meet the challenges of today’s adult students. Stewart has also implemented an organizational strategic plan and rebranded the Literacy Coalition of Central Texas.

Before becoming CEO of the Literacy Coalition, Stewart served as its Chief Financial Officer. Her professional experience in nonprofits spans over twenty years. In her career, Lisa M. Stewart earned recognition as a Non-Profit Finance Leader and was awarded CFO of the Year Rising Star for the Greater Washington, DC Area.

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Host:

Dr. Jenny McCormack Walker
Executive Director
Literacy Texas

Dr. Jenny McCormack Walker serves as the Executive Director of Literacy Texas. She was a first-generation college student who personally knows the powerful role that education plays in helping change the course of a person’s life. This passion has fueled a career in education that has spanned over two decades and impacted thousands of students. She earned a doctorate in education leadership and a master’s degree in education administration, both from Texas A&M University–Texarkana. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism from the University of North Texas. Dr. Walker also attended Texarkana College and was a graduate of Liberty-Eylau High School.

She is a member of the 2025 Leadership Texas class and she currently serves as a member of the Digital Opportunity Advisory Group for the Texas Broadband Office. In 2024, Dr. Walker represented Texas in COABE’s 2024 State Advocates for Adult Education Fellowship.

FREE ONLINE REGISTRATION

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Online registration has now closed – but we have a few spots available for last-minute registrants! Call us on 972-926-3155 to make arrangements.