abe Archives - Literacy Texas

Literacy Texas Presents: ProLiteracy & New Readers Press

April 15, 2025 by Kathryn Bauchelle

ProLiteracy provides funding, comprehensive training, professional learning, accessible research, and New Readers Press digital and print resources to unleash the power of literacy to transform lives.

ProLiteracy offers a lot of things to the literacy community, among them:

Resources
Courses and learning
Grants and funding

Many of these resources are free for anyone to use. ProLiteracy also offers paid membership, which includes access to additional resources and opportunities.

Do you know all the ways you and your organization could benefit from what ProLiteracy provides? If not, come along to this session and find out more. No hard sell – just an introduction to what’s on offer and time to ask your questions.

Join us online:

Thursday, May 8, 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM

Mark your calendar now! Further info and Zoom link coming soon.

STAY IN THE KNOW -

Or get news directly from Literacy Texas:

Checked/updated 4/15/25

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Too important to ignore

March 17, 2025 by Jenny Walker

Author: Dr. Jenny McCormack Walker, Literacy Texas Executive Director

According to 2017 data from the National Center for Education Statistics, a division of the U.S. Department of Education, 17 percent of Texas adults do not have at least a high school education or equivalent – well over 3 million people.

Across Texas, there are hundreds of small non-profits, public libraries, church ministries, and other community-based organizations working with skeleton crews and shoestring budgets to support this slice of our population. These organizations are hosting bake sales and car washes so that they can buy curriculum for their programs.

This matters not only in the lives of the men and women being served by these literacy programs, but it also matters to Texas as a whole. The most recent rankings place Texas near the bottom in the country for adult literacy. Texas is below the national average in both literacy and numeracy.

Those of us working in the adult literacy field are not ok with this. Texas cannot be ok with this. It directly impacts everything in our state from our economic development to our social services.

This issue is too important to ignore.

Our organization’s main mission is to serve as a support system for the organizations working tirelessly to make a positive impact on adult basic education and other areas that fall under the literacy umbrella. Things like computer and digital literacy, financial literacy, and language learning are critically important to individuals and families in Texas.

This is a problem that is too big for any one person or organization to solve. I know there is strength in numbers, and it will take us all working together to support this effort. I welcome any opportunity to talk with individuals, organizations, and corporations about ways we can partner in this incredibly important work.

Together, we can stand strong for adult literacy in Texas.

Our theme throughout March is Focus on ABE, and we’re looking at related topics throughout the month.

Plan to join us at our next Best of Texas online session, highlighting Texas-based Adult Basic Education programs, on March 27.

Amazing things are happening in Texas!

“Best of Texas” brings local experts together to share their wisdom and experience.

Best of Texas: Focus on ABE

February 12, 2025 by Kathryn Bauchelle

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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QUICK LINKS FOR THIS EVENT:

Click on any of the links below to go straight to that section, or simply scroll down the page.

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.

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 Development Office. In 2024, Dr. Walker represented Texas in COABE’s 2024 State Advocates for Adult Education Fellowship.

FREE ONLINE REGISTRATION

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 on 972-926-3155 to make arrangements.