Regional symposia focus primarily on adult literacy, and provide free professional development for volunteers and staff of nonprofit, community-based adult and family literacy programs.
Your local symposium is an excellent place to network with other literacy providers in your region, and a great source of professional development for volunteer and other instructors, as well as administrative staff.
QUICK LINKS FOR THE GULF COAST SYMPOSIUM:
Click on any of the links below to go straight to that section, or simply scroll down the page.
BASIC DETAILS
The 2026 Gulf Coast Literacy Symposium will be a full-day symposium, and will be held on:
Friday, June 5, from 8:15 AM to 3:30 PM (CT)
Check-in for pre-registered participants will open at 8:15 AM, with the full program beginning at 8:45 AM.
This symposium is offered free of charge to Texas nonprofit professionals who work in the fields of adult and family literacy. See Symposium FAQs for more information.
SYMPOSIUM FAQs
Click on a question to see the answer.
Q: Hang on - "symposium"? Don't you mean "conference"?
A: Literacy Texas does have an annual conference! It’s held every summer.
Our regional symposia are a different type of event to the conference.
Each symposium:
- Takes place in a different Texas region to help minimize travel
- Has a local focus
- Is free to attend
- Generally takes place on one day (some symposia are 2 days)
- Includes workshops for both classroom instructors and program administrators
- Is the primary training Literacy Texas offers for literacy volunteers
- Offers 2.5 – 5 hours of professional development, sometimes more
Q: Who should attend this symposium?
A: Anyone interested in adult and family literacy in Texas is welcome at the symposium. The people who will gain the most are instructors at community-based adult literacy organizations and nonprofits.
Volunteer tutors and teachers are especially welcome!
When we create the symposium program, we use the broadest definition of “literacy”, to include all of Adult Foundational Education: adult basic education, English as an additional language, high school equivalency, digital literacy, and workforce readiness, along with other kinds of teaching and learning.
Q: I don't live in this region. Can I still attend?
A: YES! Anyone who lives in Texas is welcome at any Literacy Texas symposium.
Q: Why should I attend?
Two words: LOCAL + FREE!
Each symposium program includes both key topics of universal interest to adult literacy programs, and a focus on the local needs of the region. When you complete our Annual Survey every year, we use the results to invite speakers and presenters on topics you said you particularly wanted and needed.
Furthermore, registration is free. You won’t need a large budget for travel or an overnight stay, in the vast majority of cases. We hope that many folks from the same organization can come to the symposium – there’s no limit on how many people can attend from one place. It’s a lot harder to send lots of people to conferences, since we know costs stack up pretty quickly.
Q: How much does registration cost?
A: The symposium is free to attend. Thanks to a generous grant from the Texas Workforce Commission, Literacy Texas can cover the costs of your tuition, any meals and snacks offered, materials, and other resources.
Please be aware that in recent years, between 15% and 30% of registrants are no-shows at our training events. Every one of these costs us money (since we’ve already paid for food, materials, and more).
If you’ve registered for a Literacy Texas event but then find you can no longer attend, PLEASE get in touch to cancel your registration.
Q: Do you offer PD credit?
A: Yes! Literacy Texas offers PD credit in conjunction with TCALL.
Certificates of completion will be awarded after the event. Complete the survey after the training is finished to give your details and get your certificate. Surveys will be sent via email in the days following the training.
Please pay attention to the due dates communicated at your symposium – after each event is wrapped up, we will not be able to go back and re-issue your PD certificate. If you know you’ll need a certificate at a later date, please take care to request it in a timely manner!
LOCATION
This symposium will be held at Houston City College Southeast Campus: The Learning Hub: 6815 Rustic Street, Houston, 77087
FLOORPLANS
The symposium will use space on the first and second floors of the Learning Hub.
HCC LEARNING HUB - FIRST FLOOR
HCC LEARNING HUB - SECOND FLOOR
When you first enter the building, make your way to Room 108, the Multi-Purpose Room, on the first floor. You will see the check-in table outside that room – please make sure you check in! (Not registered yet? Please use the button on this page to register ahead of time so that we can prepare to host you!)
Exhibitors will be set up in THAT ROOM, and all plenary sessions will be in this space.
Throughout the day, you can use the stairs or the elevators to make your way to the second floor. We will be using Rooms 217 – 220, and the two Computer Labs (204 and 205).
FREE ONLINE REGISTRATION
This session has reached capacity and we are forming a waitlist.
Use the registration button below to add your name to the list.
Registration for this session has now closed
REMINDER: CHECK YOUR SPAM
Every online registration will generate an automated email response with further information. If you don’t see it arrive, please check your junk mail!
Online registration has now closed – but we have a few spots available for last-minute registrants!
Call us at 972-926-3155 to make arrangements.
PD CERTIFICATES
Attendees can receive up to 5.5 hours of PD credit at this symposium.
You must use the Literacy Texas app to track your session attendance if you want to receive PD credit. Information about how to access and use the app will be sent to registrants ahead of the symposium.
Certificates of completion will be awarded after the event. Complete the survey after the training is finished to request your certificate. Surveys will be sent via email after the training, and certificates will be prepared and sent after the survey closes.
Please pay attention to the due dates communicated at your symposium – after each event is wrapped up, we will not be able to go back and re-issue your PD certificate. If you know you’ll need a certificate at a later date, please take care to request it in a timely manner!
SCHEDULE OUTLINE
8:15 AM – 8:30 AM | Check-in for registered attendees, breakfast (15 min)
8:30 AM – 8:45 AM | Welcome, opening remarks (15 min)
8:45 AM – 9:15 AM | Opening address (30 min)
9:15 AM – 9:45 AM | Networking activity (30 min)
9:50 AM – 11:20 AM | Breakout #1 (90 min)
11:30 AM – 12:30 PM | Working lunch (60 min) + panel discussion (45 min)
12:35 PM – 1:20 PM | Spotlight Session (45 min)
1:20 PM – 1:40 PM | Exhibitor Activity: “The 20-Minute Mission” (20 min)
1:45 PM – 3:15 PM | Breakout #2 (90 min)
3:15 PM – 3:30 PM | Farewell, door prizes
PROGRAM, SESSIONS, & SPEAKERS
Schedule will be kept as current as possible but is subject to change; check back here for updates
8:15 AM – 8:30 AM: CHECK-IN FOR PRE-REGISTERED ATTENDEES, BREAKFAST
Thank you to breakfast sponsor, Intercambio Uniting Communities!
Location: 108 – Multi-Purpose Room
8:30 AM – 8:45 AM: WELCOME, OPENING REMARKS
Location: 108 – Multi-Purpose Room
Jacqueline Aguilera
Community Liaison & Program Host, Literacy Texas
Jacqueline “Jackie” Aguilera has logged 38 years of diverse experience across educational and non-profit sectors. With a focus on adult literacy, she has left an indelible mark on various initiatives and projects in the multi-layered field of adult literacy.
As an experienced adult education innovations designer, she earned a 2021 Ford Foundation Mujeres Legendarias Award for creative ed tech applications in adult education. Her service impact also extends beyond the classroom into the workforce. She empowers both employers and employees through worksite literacy training and independent consulting. She leads a local fellowship of adult education providers called the Houston Area Adult Literacy Collective (the incredible HAALC), serves on many committees, boards, and projects impacting adult learners and families, and most recently served as Project Manager for Houston’s Mayor’s Office for Adult Literacy.
In summary, Jacqueline’s multifaceted career reflects a lifelong dedication to advancing literacy and education across diverse communities and platforms. Currently on a journey through breast cancer treatment, she is more than ever committed to advancing the lives of all those she serves, making her a messenger of inspiration, innovation, and evolution.
Dr. Frances Villagran-Glover
President, HCC Southeast
As President of Houston City College System (HCC) Southeast College, Dr. Frances Villagran-Glover brings over 25 years of diverse experience in education across six states, encompassing K-12, community colleges, and national higher education associations. Her journey as a first-generation college graduate fuels her deep commitment to educational opportunity for all.
Dr. Villagran-Glover has championed initiatives aimed at enhancing student access to higher education and equipping them with the resources needed to achieve their educational, professional, and personal aspirations. Recently, she has engaged in national policy and community efforts addressing fundamental student needs and barriers to success. A recognized advocate for student empowerment, she has presented on student success and community engagement at national conferences.
In 2022, Dr. Villagran-Glover was selected as one of twenty-six higher national education leaders for Aspen New Presidents Fellowship. She was recognized in 2025 as Houston’s Women we Admire, Women on the Move by Texas Executive Women in 2022 and is an American Leadership Forum fellow. She serves on the boards of the National Community College Hispanic Council (NCCHC) and Texas Executive Women (TEW) and is an alum of Leadership Houston. Additionally, she has contributed to various community boards, including SER Jobs for Progress and the Baker Ripley Advisory Council, and represented HCC in Excelencia in Education’s Presidents for Student Success initiative.
Dr. Villagran-Glover holds a B.S. in Community Health Education from Texas A&M University, an M.Ed. in Educational Leadership from Northern Arizona University, and a Doctor of Education in Community College Leadership from George Mason University.
Her life motto, “Find a way or make one,” embodies her proactive approach to overcoming challenges and fostering positive change.
8:45 AM – 9:15 AM
Opening Address (30 min)
Location: 108 – Multi-Purpose Room
“More Than Words: Funding and Fueling Literacy Through Partnership”
This session explores how literacy transforms not only individuals, but entire communities. Through personal stories, real-world partnership examples and practical insights on collaboration and funding, this keynote will inspire attendees to build stronger community connections that expand access, impact and opportunity through literacy.
Erika D. Jones
Vice President – Community Development Officer, Frost Bank
Erika D. Jones is a seasoned Community Development Officer at Frost Bank with more than 15 years of experience in community program administration and event coordination. Passionate about community engagement, she partners with organizations to deliver financial education and small business seminars that support low-to-moderate income individuals and families. In recognition of this work, she was honored in 2025 by the Greater Houston Women’s Chamber of Commerce for her contributions to small business advocacy.
Previously, Erika served as the lead coordinator for Houston Money Week during her tenure at the Federal Reserve Bank of Houston, further strengthening her commitment to financial empowerment. A dedicated advocate for education, Erika holds a bachelor’s degree in International Business, two master’s degrees, and a teaching certificate for grades 4–8. A proud Houston native, she serves on the boards of the Greater Houston Women’s Chamber of Commerce, Houston Texans YMCA, Houston ToolBank, just to name a few. Erika enjoys reading, traveling, retail therapy, spending time with her husband and three children, and is a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
9:15 AM – 9:45 AM
Networking Activity (30 min)
Location: 108 – Multi-Purpose Room
“Real People. Real Needs. Real Opportunities.”
Real people, real needs, and real opportunities to build together. Come ready to listen, share, and remix in this dynamic 30-minute session —a fast-paced, high-impact networking experience designed to spark meaningful connections, uncover shared challenges, and ignite collaborative solutions across the Far West Texas literacy landscape.
Jacqueline Aguilera
Community Liaison & Program Host, Literacy Texas
Jacqueline “Jackie” Aguilera has logged 38 years of diverse experience across educational and non-profit sectors. With a focus on adult literacy, she has left an indelible mark on various initiatives and projects in the multi-layered field of adult literacy.
As an experienced adult education innovations designer, she earned a 2021 Ford Foundation Mujeres Legendarias Award for creative ed tech applications in adult education. Her service impact also extends beyond the classroom into the workforce. She empowers both employers and employees through worksite literacy training and independent consulting. She leads a local fellowship of adult education providers called the Houston Area Adult Literacy Collective (the incredible HAALC), serves on many committees, boards, and projects impacting adult learners and families, and most recently served as Project Manager for Houston’s Mayor’s Office for Adult Literacy.
In summary, Jacqueline’s multifaceted career reflects a lifelong dedication to advancing literacy and education across diverse communities and platforms. Currently on a journey through breast cancer treatment, she is more than ever committed to advancing the lives of all those she serves, making her a messenger of inspiration, innovation, and evolution.
9:50 AM – 11:20 AM
Breakout #1 (90 min)
Location: Room 204
Preparing Adult Education Teams for Digital & AI-Enabled Teaching
This session will be repeated in the afternoon.
Adult education programs continue to invest in digital platforms, distance learning tools, and emerging technologies like AI, yet many initiatives struggle to achieve consistent staff adoption.
The challenge is rarely the tool itself but staff readiness. This session explores how adult education teams can move from digital access to meaningful adoption by focusing on the factors that determine whether technology truly transforms teaching and learning. Drawing from real-world examples in adult education and workforce programs, participants will examine how staff confidence, role clarity, and workflow alignment impact the success of digital tools, virtual instruction, and AI-supported processes.
Attendees will learn a practical readiness framework to identify where adoption breaks down and apply integration strategies that support rather than overwhelm staff. Participants will leave with actionable approaches to strengthen digital instruction, improve consistency, and better support adult learners’ career pathways.
Primary Topic Area
Session will also cover:
Audience
Level
Texas AEL PD Category
Assigned by TCALL
Other info:
Come prepared to reflect on your team’s digital or AI tool use and where adoption may be breaking down.
Jha Allen
Founder & CEO, Endless 8
Jha Allen is an AI strategist, educator, and founder of Endless 8, an AI training and workforce development firm supporting businesses, educational institutions, and public-sector organizations. She specializes in helping teams adopt artificial intelligence in practical, responsible ways that improve day-to-day operations and support workforce readiness.
Having trained thousands of professionals, Jha is known for translating complex AI systems into clear, usable frameworks that strengthen workflows, decision-making, and instructional practices. Her sessions focus on real implementation, helping educators and program leaders move beyond exposure to consistent, confident use of digital and AI-enabled tools.
With over 10 years of experience in digital marketing, strategy, and technology integration, Jha equips teams with the clarity and structure needed to apply AI within existing programs. Her work emphasizes practical adoption, staff readiness, and sustainable integration that supports both educators and the adult learners they serve.
Location: Room 205
Structured Literacy: Reading Instruction for All
How can we best support adults and students as they develop basic reading skills?
In this session, participants will explore how the Science of Reading research informs Structured Literacy and the signs of reading difficulties in older students. Strategies include a comprehensive approach to reading instruction, with an emphasis on phonemic awareness and instant word recognition, for adults and older students acquiring foundational literacy skills as well as English language learners.
Primary Topic Area
Session will also cover:
Audience
Level
Texas AEL PD Category
Assigned by TCALL
Pending
Other info:
No other info available at this time.
Sarah Finley, M.S., LDT, CALT
Director of ALP, Neuhaus Education Center
Sarah Finley, M.S., LDT, CALT, is a literacy educator and advocate for all learners. With twenty years of experience in Texas public and private schools, Sarah is passionate about supporting teachers and students in developing strong literacy foundations through evidence-based instruction. Sarah is a Licensed Dyslexia Therapist and Certified Academic Language Therapist who has worked with students of all ages.
At Neuhaus Education Center, Sarah serves as an instructor of a young adult class and director of the Margaret H. Ley Adult Literacy Program, which offers free virtual and in-person evening literacy classes for adult learners (16+) with dyslexia and related reading difficulties.
Location: Room 217
Building Digital Skills with the Texas Digital Literacy Toolkit
This session will be repeated in the afternoon.
The Texas Digital Literacy Toolkit is a free resource of 32 lessons and 22 videos designed to give instructors and students easy and accessible ways to improve their digital skills. Attendees will be able to share and learn strategies, tips, and lessons learned from fellow practitioners and identify at least one new tool or approach to explore in their own instructional setting.
Please bring your own device to explore the toolkit as part of the session and find a resource you can put to use immediately!
Primary Topic Area
Session will also cover:
Audience
Level
Texas AEL PD Category
Assigned by TCALL
Other info:
No other info available at this time.
Gareth Wingfield
Project Coordinator, TCALL (Texas Center for the Advancement of Literacy & Learning)
Gareth Wingfield has worked in adult education almost his entire life, starting first as a volunteer before entering the field professionally in 2007. He has more than 18 years of experience as a HSE and ESOL instructor, with special interest in math instruction.
He served as the Distance Learning Coordinator for the Literacy Council of Tyler, and now serves as a project coordinator for the Distance Education Professional Development Center.
Location: Room 218
Unlocking Your Team’s Potential: GRIT & Growth Mindset
Are your team members feeling stuck, unmotivated, or disengaged?
In this interactive session, leaders and teachers will explore how to build GRIT (Guts, Resilience, Intentionality, and Tenacity) and foster a Growth Mindset to strengthen motivation, ownership, and persistence.
Participants will gain practical strategies to increase engagement, develop resilience through challenges, and shift thinking toward continuous growth and improvement. How GRITTY is your team—and how are you helping build it?
Primary Topic Area
Session will also cover:
Audience
Level
Texas AEL PD Category
Assigned by TCALL
Other info:
Please bring a device (laptop or tablet preferred) to access interactive resources, tools, and session materials.
This session is designed to support adult learners through practical strategies that can be applied by families, classroom instructors, and administrators to strengthen GRIT, resilience, motivation, and growth mindset development across learning environments.
Theresa Sands
Theresa Sands provides technical assistance and professional development for teachers and instructional leaders across Texas. She holds a Master of Education degree with an emphasis in Adult and Higher Education, as well as a Reading Specialist certification from the University of Texas at San Antonio.
Theresa has served as both a teacher and supervisor for ESL, ABE, IET, and ASE programs and has extensive experience supporting adult learners and educators through engaging, learner-centered professional development. Her areas of expertise include adult learning, literacy instruction, growth mindset, instructional rigor, and leadership development focused on building team capacity, strengthening collaboration, and supporting continuous improvement within organizations.
Theresa has worked in Region 20 and currently serves as a TCALL contracted service provider supporting adult education and literacy programs across the state.
Location: Room 219
Literacy to Workforce: Designing Career-Connected Learning Through Apprenticeships
Adult learners are seeking more than foundational skills; they are looking for clear, attainable pathways to sustainable careers. Registered Apprenticeships provide a powerful “earn while you learn” model, but literacy providers often face challenges in connecting their learners to these opportunities.
This interactive session will explore how adult education and literacy programs can serve as a critical bridge into apprenticeship pathways. Participants will gain practical strategies to align literacy instruction with workforce expectations, build employer partnerships, and prepare learners for success in high-demand industries.
Through real-world examples, tools, and collaborative discussion, attendees will leave with actionable ideas to integrate apprenticeship awareness, readiness, and access into their programs—creating stronger outcomes for adult learners and employers alike.
Primary Topic Area
Session will also cover:
Audience
Level
Texas AEL PD Category
Assigned by TCALL
Pending
Other info:
We’ll undertake an interactive activity if time permits: Designing Your Talent Pipeline
Traci Nolen
Principal Industry Liaison, Gulf Coast Workforce Board
Traci Nolen serves as the Principal Industry Liaison for the Gulf Coast Workforce Board, where she provides senior‑level employer consultation and delivers strategic workforce solutions across high‑demand industries throughout the Gulf Coast region. In this role, she partners closely with employers, industry leaders, and workforce stakeholders to align talent strategies with regional labor market needs and economic priorities.
Previously, Traci served as an Apprenticeship Specialist with the Texas Workforce Commission, where she provided technical assistance and consultative support to employers and workforce partners statewide in support of Registered Apprenticeship expansion. Through this work, she assisted employers in designing, launching, and scaling apprenticeship programs across Texas, helping to strengthen employer‑driven talent pipelines.
With more than 20 years of workforce development experience across Kentucky and Texas, Traci has also served as a Project Manager for local workforce boards in both states. Her career highlights include leading innovative workforce initiatives such as transitioning coal miners into technology careers, establishing a network of 15 community‑based job clubs across Eastern Kentucky that received national recognition from the U.S. Department of Labor and the White House during the Obama Administration, and supporting large‑scale workforce recovery efforts following Hurricane Harvey in the Greater Houston region.
Today, Traci remains on the front lines of employer engagement and workforce innovation, supporting businesses and partners through strategic collaboration, program development, and industry‑driven solutions that strengthen and future‑proof talent pipelines across Texas.
Location: Room 220
Entrepreneurship as a Workforce Strategy
Building Community-Based Initiatives That Create Confidence, Economic Mobility & Real-World Opportunity
Entrepreneurship education within literacy and community-based organizations is often misunderstood as simply teaching business ownership. In reality, entrepreneurship can serve as a powerful workforce development strategy that helps learners build confidence, identify transferable skills, strengthen communication abilities, increase problem-solving capacity, and create pathways toward economic mobility.
This interactive session explores how literacy programs, volunteer-led organizations, and adult education providers can integrate entrepreneurship initiatives into existing programming without requiring large budgets or formal business incubators. Participants will learn how to develop practical entrepreneurship-focused activities that support workforce readiness, community engagement, self-advocacy, leadership development, and real-world application.
The session will also examine how entrepreneurship education can empower learners who may face barriers to traditional employment while helping organizations create innovative, community-centered programming that strengthens learner outcomes and long-term engagement.
Participants will leave with practical implementation ideas, initiative concepts, interactive activities, and strategies that can be adapted across literacy, ESL, workforce, and community-based programs.
Primary Topic Area
Session will also cover:
Audience
Level
Texas AEL PD Category
Assigned by TCALL
Pending
Other info:
No other info available at this time.
Gloria Spruce
CEO/Founder, Refined Solutions Group
Gloria Spruce is the Founder and CEO of Refined Solutions Group, where she specializes in nonprofit leadership development, organizational strategy, workforce education, grant readiness, and community impact initiatives. With more than a decade of experience in adult education, workforce development, compliance, and nonprofit operations, she is recognized for helping organizations strengthen infrastructure, increase funding readiness, and build sustainable community partnerships.
Previously serving as President & CEO of the Adult Education Center in Pearland, Texas, Gloria successfully led strategic program expansion, improved operational systems, strengthened community partnerships, and eliminated a six-figure organizational deficit through compliance-driven leadership and innovative restructuring. Her work has supported adult learners, educators, entrepreneurs, and underserved communities across the Gulf Coast region.
Through Refined Solutions Group, Gloria now provides coaching, consulting, training, and strategic development support to nonprofits, leaders, and community organizations seeking to increase impact, improve sustainability, and create transformative educational and workforce opportunities.
11:30 AM – 12:30 PM: WORKING LUNCH
Location: 108 – Multi-Purpose Room
Panel Discussion (45 min)
“Connecting the Dots: Adult Literacy and Workforce Development in the Greater Houston Area”
This panel session will focus on the critical intersection between adult education, workforce training, and regional economic needs. The discussion will highlight how collaboration among education providers, workforce partners, and community organizations can strengthen career pathways, support adult learners, and meet the evolving demands of the Gulf Coast’s workforce.
PANEL MODERATOR
Dedre M. Smith
Executive Director, Literacy Council of Fort Bend County
Dedre M. Smith is an accomplished Executive Director with more than 20 years of experience in the nonprofit sector. She is deeply committed to serving communities through the development and management of high-quality programs that create lasting impact. Throughout her career, Dedre has demonstrated exceptional success in building strategic partnerships, increasing revenue, and delivering innovative and effective programs.
Beyond her professional accomplishments, Dedre enjoys spending time with family and friends, exploring new restaurants, reading, attending plays and concerts, and traveling. Her passion for making a difference, combined with her enthusiasm for life, reflects her ongoing commitment to excellence in all that she does.
PANELIST
Luis A. Garcia-Alvarez
Senior Advisor for Community Engagement, USAHello
Luis Ángel García-Álvarez is the Senior Advisor for Community Engagement at USAHello, where he supports national efforts to expand access to reliable, multilingual information for immigrant communities across the United States. His work focuses on strengthening trust, combating misinformation, and improving access to education and integration resources.
He is also the Founder and President of the System for Education Empowerment and Success (SEDES), a Houston-based nonprofit that provides adult education programs in English, GED, citizenship, and workforce training. Through his leadership, SEDES serves hundreds of immigrant families each year, helping them achieve economic independence and social integration.
With over 20 years of experience, Luis is a recognized community leader, educator, and advocate. He has been honored by the City of Houston for his contributions to the community and continues to collaborate with local and national partners to advance opportunities for immigrant learners.
PANELIST
Traci Nolen
Principal Industry Liaison, Gulf Coast Workforce Board
Traci Nolen serves as the Principal Industry Liaison for the Gulf Coast Workforce Board, where she provides senior‑level employer consultation and delivers strategic workforce solutions across high‑demand industries throughout the Gulf Coast region. In this role, she partners closely with employers, industry leaders, and workforce stakeholders to align talent strategies with regional labor market needs and economic priorities.
Previously, Traci served as an Apprenticeship Specialist with the Texas Workforce Commission, where she provided technical assistance and consultative support to employers and workforce partners statewide in support of Registered Apprenticeship expansion. Through this work, she assisted employers in designing, launching, and scaling apprenticeship programs across Texas, helping to strengthen employer‑driven talent pipelines.
With more than 20 years of workforce development experience across Kentucky and Texas, Traci has also served as a Project Manager for local workforce boards in both states. Her career highlights include leading innovative workforce initiatives such as transitioning coal miners into technology careers, establishing a network of 15 community‑based job clubs across Eastern Kentucky that received national recognition from the U.S. Department of Labor and the White House during the Obama Administration, and supporting large‑scale workforce recovery efforts following Hurricane Harvey in the Greater Houston region.
Today, Traci remains on the front lines of employer engagement and workforce innovation, supporting businesses and partners through strategic collaboration, program development, and industry‑driven solutions that strengthen and future‑proof talent pipelines across Texas.
PANELIST
Tanaz Choudhury
President, TanChes Global Management, INC.
Tanaz Choudhury is the CEO and President of TanChes Global Management Inc., a Houston-based IT solutions provider founded in 1998, specializing in digital transformation, zero-trust cybersecurity, and hybrid cloud strategies. TanChes serves small to medium-sized businesses, enterprises, and government agencies, and holds recognition as a minority-owned small business through Texas’s Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) program.
Under Tanaz’s leadership, the company has earned multiple awards and certifications. A results-driven leader, she aligns client expectations with deliverables to maximize growth through a win-win approach.
Beyond TanChes, Tanaz is deeply committed to workforce development and community engagement. As a first-generation American, she has partnered with the Department of Labor, Houston Community College, and the Gulf Coast Region Apprenticeship Hub to launch IT apprenticeship programs for local students. She also collaborates with organizations like Dell and Amazon Web Services to develop workforce-ready programs through community colleges nationwide. Tanaz serves on various boards and panels, advocating for sustainable financial ecosystems that empower local communities. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from the University of Mumbai. Her dedication to innovation, community development, and socio-civic causes makes her a respected leader across both the tech industry and the broader business community.
12:35 PM – 1:20 PM
Spotlight Session (45 min)
Location: 108 – Multi-Purpose Room
FinLit Fusion in Language Skills, Workforce Prep, and Family Literacy Learning
FinLit Fusion in Language Skills, Workforce Prep, and Family Literacy Learning reimagines financial literacy as a dynamic thread woven through English development, job readiness, and intergenerational learning. This session offers hands‑on demos, QR‑linked activities, and multilingual strategies educators can easily adapt for diverse adult learners.
Primary Topic Area
Session will also cover:
Audience
Level
Texas AEL PD Category
Assigned by TCALL
Other info:
No other info available at this time.
Jacqueline Aguilera
Community Liaison & Program Host, Literacy Texas
Jacqueline “Jackie” Aguilera has logged 38 years of diverse experience across educational and non-profit sectors. With a focus on adult literacy, she has left an indelible mark on various initiatives and projects in the multi-layered field of adult literacy.
As an experienced adult education innovations designer, she earned a 2021 Ford Foundation Mujeres Legendarias Award for creative ed tech applications in adult education. Her service impact also extends beyond the classroom into the workforce. She empowers both employers and employees through worksite literacy training and independent consulting. She leads a local fellowship of adult education providers called the Houston Area Adult Literacy Collective (the incredible HAALC), serves on many committees, boards, and projects impacting adult learners and families, and most recently served as Project Manager for Houston’s Mayor’s Office for Adult Literacy.
In summary, Jacqueline’s multifaceted career reflects a lifelong dedication to advancing literacy and education across diverse communities and platforms. Currently on a journey through breast cancer treatment, she is more than ever committed to advancing the lives of all those she serves, making her a messenger of inspiration, innovation, and evolution.
1:20 PM – 1:40 PM: EXHIBITOR ACTIVITY
Location: 108 – Multi-Purpose Room
1:45 PM – 3:15 PM
Breakout #2 (90 min)
Location: Room 204
Preparing Adult Education Teams for Digital & AI-Enabled Teaching
This session is a repeat from the morning.
Adult education programs continue to invest in digital platforms, distance learning tools, and emerging technologies like AI, yet many initiatives struggle to achieve consistent staff adoption.
The challenge is rarely the tool itself but staff readiness. This session explores how adult education teams can move from digital access to meaningful adoption by focusing on the factors that determine whether technology truly transforms teaching and learning. Drawing from real-world examples in adult education and workforce programs, participants will examine how staff confidence, role clarity, and workflow alignment impact the success of digital tools, virtual instruction, and AI-supported processes.
Attendees will learn a practical readiness framework to identify where adoption breaks down and apply integration strategies that support rather than overwhelm staff. Participants will leave with actionable approaches to strengthen digital instruction, improve consistency, and better support adult learners’ career pathways.
Primary Topic Area
Session will also cover:
Audience
Level
Texas AEL PD Category
Assigned by TCALL
Other info:
Come prepared to reflect on your team’s digital or AI tool use and where adoption may be breaking down.
Jha Allen
Founder & CEO, Endless 8
Jha Allen is an AI strategist, educator, and founder of Endless 8, an AI training and workforce development firm supporting businesses, educational institutions, and public-sector organizations. She specializes in helping teams adopt artificial intelligence in practical, responsible ways that improve day-to-day operations and support workforce readiness.
Having trained thousands of professionals, Jha is known for translating complex AI systems into clear, usable frameworks that strengthen workflows, decision-making, and instructional practices. Her sessions focus on real implementation, helping educators and program leaders move beyond exposure to consistent, confident use of digital and AI-enabled tools.
With over 10 years of experience in digital marketing, strategy, and technology integration, Jha equips teams with the clarity and structure needed to apply AI within existing programs. Her work emphasizes practical adoption, staff readiness, and sustainable integration that supports both educators and the adult learners they serve.
Location: Room 205
Powerful Reading Instruction: Word Parts + Morphology
How can we help adult learners improve their reading skills and vocabulary to enhance their reading comprehension?
In this session, build on your understanding of Structured Literacy, the stages of reading, and English language history and patterns. Strategies include a comprehensive approach to reading instruction with emphasis on structural analysis and morphology to develop vocabulary and comprehension.
Primary Topic Area
Session will also cover:
Audience
Level
Texas AEL PD Category
Assigned by TCALL
Pending
Other info:
No other info available at this time.
Sarah Finley, M.S., LDT, CALT
Director of ALP, Neuhaus Education Center
Sarah Finley, M.S., LDT, CALT, is a literacy educator and advocate for all learners. With twenty years of experience in Texas public and private schools, Sarah is passionate about supporting teachers and students in developing strong literacy foundations through evidence-based instruction. Sarah is a Licensed Dyslexia Therapist and Certified Academic Language Therapist who has worked with students of all ages.
At Neuhaus Education Center, Sarah serves as an instructor of a young adult class and director of the Margaret H. Ley Adult Literacy Program, which offers free virtual and in-person evening literacy classes for adult learners (16+) with dyslexia and related reading difficulties.
Location: Room 217
Building Digital Skills with the Texas Digital Literacy Toolkit
This session is a repeat from the morning.
The Texas Digital Literacy Toolkit is a free resource of 32 lessons and 22 videos designed to give instructors and students easy and accessible ways to improve their digital skills. Attendees will be able to share and learn strategies, tips, and lessons learned from fellow practitioners and identify at least one new tool or approach to explore in their own instructional setting.
Please bring your own device to explore the toolkit as part of the session and find a resource you can put to use immediately!
Primary Topic Area
Session will also cover:
Audience
Level
Texas AEL PD Category
Assigned by TCALL
Other info:
No other info available at this time.
Gareth Wingfield
Project Coordinator, TCALL (Texas Center for the Advancement of Literacy & Learning)
Gareth Wingfield has worked in adult education almost his entire life, starting first as a volunteer before entering the field professionally in 2007. He has more than 18 years of experience as a HSE and ESOL instructor, with special interest in math instruction.
He served as the Distance Learning Coordinator for the Literacy Council of Tyler, and now serves as a project coordinator for the Distance Education Professional Development Center.
Location: Room 218
Accent Reduction to Enhance Verbal Communication – Fricatives, Glides, OH MY!!!!
This interactive session will provide instructors with a variety of activities and strategies to support ABE/ASE and ESL students in developing clearer pronunciation and verbal communication skills.
Participants will explore articulation techniques, phoneme awareness, and correct enunciation while gaining a foundational understanding of linguistics. A sound wall resource and practical instructional tools will be shared to help support workplace literacy, confidence, and effective communication skills for adult learners.
Primary Topic Area
Session will also cover:
Audience
Level
Texas AEL PD Category
Assigned by TCALL
Other info:
You will need a device handy to support the learning environment and/or resources.
Theresa Sands
Theresa Sands provides technical assistance and professional development for teachers and instructional leaders across Texas. She holds a Master of Education degree with an emphasis in Adult and Higher Education, as well as a Reading Specialist certification from the University of Texas at San Antonio.
Theresa has served as both a teacher and supervisor for ESL, ABE, IET, and ASE programs and has extensive experience supporting adult learners and educators through engaging, learner-centered professional development. Her areas of expertise include adult learning, literacy instruction, growth mindset, instructional rigor, and leadership development focused on building team capacity, strengthening collaboration, and supporting continuous improvement within organizations.
Theresa has worked in Region 20 and currently serves as a TCALL contracted service provider supporting adult education and literacy programs across the state.
Location: Room 219
Building Community Capacity, Strategic Partnerships, and Funding
This interactive workshop explores how organizations can strengthen community capacity, build strategic partnerships, and develop programs that are sustainable and fundable.
Participants will gain practical strategies for engaging stakeholders, assessing community needs, and creating collaborative partnerships that increase organizational impact and long-term success. The session will also examine the essential components funders look for when investing in programs, including measurable outcomes, strong leadership, sustainability planning, and evidence-based program design.
Through discussion, real-world examples, and action-planning activities, attendees will learn how to align community priorities with organizational goals while strengthening their ability to attract funding and demonstrate impact.
This workshop is designed for nonprofit leaders, educators, program managers, community organizations, and stakeholders seeking to build stronger systems, improve program effectiveness, and create lasting community change through collaboration and strategic planning.
Primary Topic Area
Session will also cover:
Audience
Level
Texas AEL PD Category
Assigned by TCALL
Pending
Other info:
No other info available at this time.
Dedre M. Smith
Executive Director, Literacy Council of Fort Bend County
Dedre M. Smith is an accomplished Executive Director with more than 20 years of experience in the nonprofit sector. She is deeply committed to serving communities through the development and management of high-quality programs that create lasting impact. Throughout her career, Dedre has demonstrated exceptional success in building strategic partnerships, increasing revenue, and delivering innovative and effective programs.
Beyond her professional accomplishments, Dedre enjoys spending time with family and friends, exploring new restaurants, reading, attending plays and concerts, and traveling. Her passion for making a difference, combined with her enthusiasm for life, reflects her ongoing commitment to excellence in all that she does.
Location: Room 220
Beyond Conversation Classes
Designing English-at-Work Programs That Build Workforce Confidence, Communication Skills & Real-Life Success
Many literacy and ESL programs want to prepare learners for employment opportunities but struggle with how to effectively integrate workforce communication, professionalism, and real-world workplace skills into existing instruction.
This interactive session explores how organizations can design English-at-Work initiatives that move beyond basic conversation practice and instead focus on building confidence, workplace readiness, communication navigation, and transferable life skills.
Participants will learn practical strategies for embedding workforce-focused communication activities into existing literacy and ESL programming while supporting learner confidence, self-advocacy, problem-solving, and economic mobility.
The session will also examine how volunteer-led and community-based organizations can create low-barrier English-at-Work initiatives that reflect real workplace environments and learner needs. Attendees will leave with adaptable program ideas, interactive activities, implementation strategies, and workforce-centered instructional concepts that can immediately strengthen learner engagement and employment readiness outcomes.
Primary Topic Area
Session will also cover:
Audience
Level
Texas AEL PD Category
Assigned by TCALL
Pending
Other info:
No other info available at this time.
Gloria Spruce
CEO/Founder, Refined Solutions Group
Gloria Spruce is the Founder and CEO of Refined Solutions Group, where she specializes in nonprofit leadership development, organizational strategy, workforce education, grant readiness, and community impact initiatives. With more than a decade of experience in adult education, workforce development, compliance, and nonprofit operations, she is recognized for helping organizations strengthen infrastructure, increase funding readiness, and build sustainable community partnerships.
Previously serving as President & CEO of the Adult Education Center in Pearland, Texas, Gloria successfully led strategic program expansion, improved operational systems, strengthened community partnerships, and eliminated a six-figure organizational deficit through compliance-driven leadership and innovative restructuring. Her work has supported adult learners, educators, entrepreneurs, and underserved communities across the Gulf Coast region.
Through Refined Solutions Group, Gloria now provides coaching, consulting, training, and strategic development support to nonprofits, leaders, and community organizations seeking to increase impact, improve sustainability, and create transformative educational and workforce opportunities.
3:15 PM – 3:30 PM: FAREWELL & DOOR PRIZES
Location: 108 – Multi-Purpose Room
DOWNLOADS
Download or print a flyer to display at your location or send to others who may be interested in attending the symposium.
Downloadable PDF flyer for this symposium is coming soon.
Download or print a copy of the symposium program.
Printable PDF copy of the symposium program is coming soon.
SPECIAL THANKS TO -
[name of any sponsors or other partners – as many as relevant, new line for each]
The regional symposia are funded by the Professional Development Support for Nonprofit Adult Literacy Organizations grant from the Texas Workforce Commission.
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Checked/updated: 3/20/2026
Thank you so much for your interest!
This event is now over.
