family literacy Archives - Literacy Texas

The Expert Edge: Cross-Curricular Learning

June 9, 2026 by Kathryn Bauchelle

The Expert Edge: Online training on core topics that all adult literacy professionals should know – research and evidence-based ideas and tips to keep your program focused. Stay sharp with The Expert Edge!

QUICK LINKS FOR THIS EXPERT EDGE SESSION:

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

Basic details

About this topic

Meet the presenter

Online registration

PD Certificates

Downloads and printable documents

Special thanks

BASIC DETAILS

This online session will be held on:

Tuesday, August 25, 2026 from 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM (CT)

Check-in for registered participants will open on Zoom at 12:50 PM.

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

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

Join us for “[Topic]: [Full title]”, led by [brief description/credentials] [presenter name].

This literacy training session will focus on [topic]. Presenter [name] will take us through [short description of session].

ABOUT THIS TOPIC

Adult learners have a limited amount of time in the classroom, so instructors have to pack as much into a lesson as possible. A great way to maximize learning is to incorporate cross-curricular strategies into lesson plans.

In this session, learn ways you can weave multiple subjects together in one lesson so students get the most from their time with you.

This session will be aimed particularly at Texas community-based adult literacy organizations.

Primary Topic Area

Session will also cover:

Audience

Level

Texas AEL PD Category

Assigned by TCALL

Pending

See the full Texas AEL Guide.

Other info:

No other info available at this time.

MEET THE PRESENTER

Jenny Walker

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.

PD CERTIFICATES

Participants who complete the full session will receive 1.5 hours of PD credit.

Literacy Texas defines “complete” as:

Be present for at least 90% of the session;
Remain on camera for the entire time you are present.

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 after the training, and certificates will be prepared and sent after the survey closes.

Please pay attention to the due dates – 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!

DOWNLOADS & PRINTABLE DOCUMENTS

Download a flyer to display at your location or send to others who may be interested in attending [link whole sentence to PDF of flyer].

Downloadable PDF flyer for this training session is coming soon.

SPECIAL THANKS

[presenter]

[name of any sponsors or other partners – as many as relevant, new line for each]

The Texas Workforce Commission

STAY IN THE KNOW -

Or get news directly from Literacy Texas:

Thank you so much for your interest!

This event is now over.

Last checked/updated: 2/26/2026

Best of Texas: Parents, Caregivers, and the School System

June 9, 2026 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.

QUICK LINKS FOR THIS BEST OF TEXAS 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

PD certificates

Special thanks

BASIC DETAILS

This online session will be held on:

Thursday, August 13, 2026, from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM (CT).

PLEASE NOTE NEW AFTERNOON TIME!

The Zoom room will open to registered attendees at 12:50 PM.

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

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

Parents and caregivers are vital partners in the school system, and Texas adult and family literacy programs can serve as the convener and hub that brings these voices together. By working collaboratively with schools, we can help optimize results – strengthening literacy for both current learners and future generations.

This spotlight will explore parent engagement activities, intergenerational literacy projects, and school‑community partnerships, highlighting how community-based organizations and other adult and family literacy programs can build a collaborative system that empowers families, supports educators, and creates lasting pathways to academic and workforce success.

Primary Topic Area

Session will also cover:

Audience

Level

Texas AEL PD Category

Assigned by TCALL

See the full Texas AEL Guide.

Other info:

No other info available at this time.

GUESTS THIS MONTH

Iván J. Tamayo

Family and Community Engagement (FACE) Specialist

Aldine ISD

Iván J. Tamayo is a Family and Community Engagement Specialist with Aldine ISD in Houston, Texas, where he leads adult education initiatives that empower parents and strengthen family engagement. Through his work, he helps create learning opportunities that build families’ capacity to support their children’s academic success.

An immigrant, educator, and proud lifelong English learner, Iván is passionate about advocating for students and families while recognizing the cultural and linguistic strengths that communities bring to schools. He believes that education has the power to transform lives and create opportunities for future generations.

With more than 20 years of experience in education, Iván has served in a variety of instructional and leadership roles dedicated to expanding access, engagement, and educational opportunity.

Originally from Cuautla, Morelos, Mexico, Iván holds a bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Universidad del Tepeyac, an MBA from Universidad Chapultepec, and a master’s degree in Educational Administration from Sam Houston State University.

He is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Bilingual Education at Texas A&M University–Kingsville, where his research focuses on the experiences of adult English learners and immigrant communities.

Name

Title

Organization + URL

Bio pending

Name

Title

Organization + URL

Bio pending

Additional guests to be confirmed.

LITERACY TEXAS HOST

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.

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.

PD CERTIFICATES

Participants who complete the full session will receive 1 hour of PD credit.

Literacy Texas defines “complete” as:

Be present for at least 90% of the session;
Remain on camera for the entire time you are present.

SPECIAL THANKS

[presenter]

[name of any sponsors or other partners – as many as relevant, new line for each]

The Texas Workforce Commission

STAY IN THE KNOW -

Or get news directly from Literacy Texas:

Thank you so much for your interest!

This event is now over.

Checked/updated 4/30/2026

No One Learns on an Empty Stomach

January 6, 2026 by Jenny Walker

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

When life is hard, learning is hard.

The adult learners we serve often come to us while carrying the weight of real–life challenges as parents, caregivers, workers, and survivors. When basic needs are unstable, even the most motivated learner struggles to stay focused on education and workforce goals.

That’s why wraparound support systems are not a luxury. They are essential.

The 100 Families model recognizes the importance of harnessing the power of the community to help people in crisis. Students who are worried about housing, food, transportation, health care, or childcare cannot fully engage in learning. Programs like 100 Families step in to stabilize those foundations so adult learners can do what they came to do: Learn, grow, and move toward economic security.

This coordinated, community–driven approach brings partners together to work as a team. The learner isn’t treated as a problem to be fixed, but rather as a whole person with strengths, goals, and dignity.

For adult learning programs, this kind of partnership is transformative, and there’s a sense of urgency in finding creative solutions like 100 Families to support adult learners. Rising costs, workforce shortages, and economic uncertainty are placing even greater strain on adult learners and their families. If we’re serious about workforce development and long–term solutions, we must invest in systems that support the whole learner.

Programs like 100 Families remind us that success is rarely the result of a single organization working alone. It’s built through relationships, trust, and coordinated care. When adult learners are surrounded by support, they do more than complete a class or earn a credential. They change the trajectory of their lives and, in doing so, strengthen our communities.

We’re talking about wraparound services throughout January – it’s our theme of the month. Why not join us online for Best of Texas and hear from participants in the 100 Families program about what it’s done for them and their families?

Get Texas literacy updates

Join our mailing list so you don’t miss any news:

Local and national literacy news
Conference updates
Regional symposia
Best of Texas
Advocacy
…more!

The Heart of Learning: Family Literacy for a Brighter Tomorrow

November 7, 2024 by Jenny Walker

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

When I have the opportunity to talk with adult learners, I always ask about their “why.” They usually tell me it’s so that they can provide a better life for their children. These men and women are putting in hard work to forge a new pathway for the next generation. I understand that all too well.

During my senior year of high school, I took two dual credit classes at a local community college. The success I found that semester gave me the confidence I needed to believe that maybe I was capable of earning a degree. Maybe my career options did not have to be limited by unstable life circumstances, and maybe my future children would not face the same challenges generational poverty brought my way. Those two simple classes provided the foundation I needed to ultimately earn three degrees, build a beautiful career in education, and provide a stable life that has allowed my children to have opportunities I never imagined.

My daughter, Ryan Kate, graduated last spring as one of 19 students from her high school who simultaneously earned a diploma and an associate’s degree from our local community college – the same college where I took those two classes years ago. She transferred 60 credit hours to a four-year university, and at only 17, she was already halfway through a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing.

Watching my daughter walk across that stage with so much confidence was not only a pride point for me as her mother, but it also was significant for me as a first-generation college student. I was proud of her, but I was proud of me too. She is my wildest dream come true, and I pray the adult learners we serve get to have a day like that.

In the daily grind of lesson plans, instruction, and assessments, it’s easy to forget the incredible power of adult literacy. We may see the immediate impact of this work when our students reach their goals, but I believe the biggest mark we could ever make will reveal itself long after we have hung up our teacher hats. Our greatest success will come when the children and grandchildren of our current students reap the benefits of their parents’ success. What an honor we have to open the doors for them!

Our theme throughout November is Family Literacy, and we’re focusing on related topics throughout the month. Find general resources here, and plan to join us at Best of Texas: Family Literacy on November 21.

Get Texas literacy updates

Join our mailing list so you don’t miss any news:

Local and national literacy news
Conference updates
Regional symposia
Best of Texas
Advocacy
…more!

Best of Texas: Family Literacy

September 25, 2024 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 aims to bring local experts together to share their wisdom and experience – and maybe help us all avoid a few pitfalls along the way.

Thank you so much for your interest!

This event is now over.

This online panel discussion will be held on:

Thursday, November 21, 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.

ABOUT THIS SESSION

We’ll hear from Fran-Victoria Stephens (Story Square) who will share important information about the generational impact of family literacy.

Other guests will include Anjela Martinez and LeeAnn Jennings (Harris County Public Library) to give us a strong understanding about how public libraries are making a difference.

Guests this month:

Fran-Victoria Stephens
Founder & President
Story Square

Fran-Victoria Stephens is a former attorney and journalist who became the Founder and President of Story Square, Inc. – an evidence-based education social enterprise. After the pandemic, when she witnessed firsthand how parents faced the daunting task of serving as their children’s primary resource for education, she decided parents needed to experience the mission and spirit of Story Square on a larger stage. So, in 2022 she expanded the organization’s work and began Story Square’s Lit with Families Texas Family Literacy Festival, which takes place annually at downtown Houston’s Discovery Green.

Fran-Victoria is an impact addict and obsessed with the impact today’s small actions have on enduring change for our future. She is an avid researcher, writer, civil rights and education advocate, lecturer, and a self-proclaimed neoteric. She specializes in building new things. From idea generation, process design, implementation, and then evaluation, she has created lectures, programs, and Story Square with a focus on operationalizing her passion and education in civil rights law. These vehicles that carry out her passion serve her personal mission: to academically open minds and spiritually speak to hearts. Her hope is that her work widens our imaginative capacity to excavate new pathways for equity that lead to a collective, interdependent freedom.

Anjela Martinez
Assistant Manager, Youth Services
Harris County Public Library

Anjela Martinez is the Youth Services Assistant Manager at Harris County Public Library. She has over a decade of experience in public libraries and leads system-wide literacy programs like Summer Reading and Growing Readers at HCPL.

Anjela grew up in libraries and understands the importance libraries play in fostering literacy and lifelong learning. She enjoys spending time with her family, reading, baking, traveling, and going on adventures with her dog Lobo.

LeeAnn Jennings
Youth Literacy Services Specialist
Harris County Public Library

LeeAnn Jennings is the Youth Literacy Services Specialist for Harris County Public Library. LeeAnn is a former school teacher who made the switch to public libraries in 2017. She helps coordinates HCPL’s county wide youth literacy programs such as Book Buddies, Tournament of Books, Growing Readers, and the Summer Reading Program.

As someone with dyslexia, LeeAnn was a struggling reader in school until she discovered the mythical “one book” that turned her into an avid reader- and now she helps other children discover their book! LeeAnn enjoys reading, crafting, and playing pretend with her Dungeons and Dragons group.

Host:

Dr. Jenny McCormack Walker
Executive Director
Literacy Texas

Dr. Jenny McCormack Walker joined Literacy Texas in January 2024, after a successful run as the Executive Director of the Literacy Council of Bowie and Miller Counties, a small non-profit that made a big impact on the Texarkana community during her tenure. Dr. Walker helped the organization find financial stability and expanded innovative academic and workforce program options for adult learners at her center. She and her team launched the first 100 Families Alliance in Texas, and this innovative approach to holistic support for students led to impressive growth in enrollment and goal completion rates for those she serves.

Dr. Walker 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 two decades and impacted thousands of students. She is a certified Texas teacher and principal, and she has worked in both adjunct faculty and staff positions in higher education. She has also led professional development trainings for teachers and administrators and served as a public speaker. She earned a doctorate in education leadership from Texas A&M University–Texarkana, and her dissertation research focused on the importance of holistic support for adult learners. She holds a master’s degree in education administration from Texas A&M University–Texarkana, and she earned 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.

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

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!

Special thanks to:

Fran-Victoria Stephens

Anjela Martinez

LeeAnn Jennings

The Texas Workforce Commission

STAY IN THE KNOW -

Or get news directly from Literacy Texas:

Checked/updated 11/25/24

Families: The Heart of Learning

November 1, 2023 by Kathryn Bauchelle

There’s nothing quite like a family.

And when it comes to learning, there’s nothing that can replace a family connection.

When children see the trusted adults in their lives being curious, learning, exploring, playing with words and discovery and literacy, it accelerates their own learning. It sets them on a path to school success, to reading for both enjoyment and for knowledge, and to lifelong learning.

There are so many ways to champion literacy for families! Here are snapshots of two Texas programs making a difference.

South Texas Literacy Coalition

The South Texas Literacy Coalition works to enhance and enrich the quality of life in their region through community partnerships that lead to more literate communities.

Key activities:

Story Square

Story Square works with Houston families to champion family learning, using art and music (and much more!) to build language and literacy skills.

Key activities:

November is Family Literacy Month. As the month unfolds, celebrate families of all kinds with us – and the many, many ways they can learn together.

Get Texas literacy updates

Join our mailing list so you don’t miss any news:

Local and national literacy news
Conference updates
Regional symposia
Best of Texas
Advocacy
…more!

2024 Literacy Texas Annual Conference

May 18, 2023 by Kathryn Bauchelle

The Literacy Texas Annual Conference is THE event for educators, nonprofit administrators, and organizations working with literacy in Texas. Learn about the latest research in the literacy field. Rub shoulders with experts and connect with like-minded people. Most importantly, leave with the tools, relationships, and inspiration you need to continue making a difference.

2024 Conference Basics

Monday, July 29 – Arrival, check-in, exhibitor set-up, VIP Reception & Exhibitor Grand Opening
Tuesday, July 30 – Conference Day 1
Wednesday, July 31 – Conference Day 2

The theme of the 2024 conference is “Literacy and Beyond”, and our hashtag is #LitTX24.