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The Expert Edge: Community Collaboration

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The Expert Edge: Online training on core topics that all adult and family literacy professionals should know. Stay sharp with The Expert Edge!

Thank you so much for your interest!

This event is now over.

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

This online session will be held on:

Thursday, March 6, 2025, 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.

ABOUT THIS TOPIC

In non-profit organizations, we carry the weight of many heavy challenges facing our student population. Imagine how light our adult literacy load would feel if we were able to spread the weight across many shoulders. Imagine how much more you could do if you had more hands to help.

Participants in this session will learn how to make those visions a reality through community collaboration. We will discuss research-based strategies for engaging with other organizations in your community and working together toward common goals. You will learn how to cast a vision, get people on board, and transform your entire community. 

MEET THE PRESENTER

Dr. Jenny McCormack Walker

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

FREE ONLINE REGISTRATION

click here to register now

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

Someone who completes the full session will receive 1.5 hours of PD credit.

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.

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 -

click here to go to the literacy texas calendar
click here to see the national literacy calendar

Or get news directly from Literacy Texas:

Last checked/updated: 3/26/2025

Best of Texas: Workforce Literacy

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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.

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

This special in-depth online Best of Texas session will be held on:

Thursday, January 30, from 8:45 AM to 12:15 PM (CT).

The Zoom room will open at 8:30 AM.

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

This special in-depth session (3+ hours instead of our usual 60 min) will focus on best practices in workforce literacy, and how to help adults and families prepare for success in the workplace.

What examples are out there of Texas programs working well in partnership?

How can the Texas Workforce Commission help?

What resources can CBOs access to help set up adult students for success in the workforce?

PROGRAM, SCHEDULE, & SESSIONS

8:30 AM: ONLINE CHECK-IN OPENS

8:45 AM: WELCOME

9:00 AM – 10:00 AM: Session 1 (60 min)

From Literacy to Employment: A Successful Partnership Model
Beth Carlton, Literacy Council of Bowie & Miller Counties
Kristina Rivas, Literacy Council of Bowie & Miller Counties
Jenny Wilder, Lost Pizza Co.

This session will showcase the innovative partnership between the Literacy Council of Bowie and Miller Counties and Lost Pizza Co., demonstrating how collaboration between adult education providers and local businesses can create effective pathways to employment for adult learners. Attendees will gain insights into creating mutually beneficial partnerships that empower adult learners, support local businesses, and strengthen the community. This session will provide practical tips for literacy professionals looking to establish similar programs in their areas.

Unlocking Potential: TCALL Resources for Literacy Providers and Their Adult Learners
Dr. Glenda Rose, Texas Center for the Advancement of Literacy & Learning (TCALL)

The Texas Center for the Advancement of Literacy and Learning (TCALL) has been serving literacy providers in Texas since 1989 with a vision to empower all adults living in Texas to achieve the literacy skills they need to support themselves, their families, and their communities. They accomplish this primarily by supporting literacy providers in local communities.

Join this session to learn about the comprehensive resources available through TCALL, including free resources on their website, the PD Portal for on-demand training and live webinars, the Distance Education PD Call Center, and the extensive TCALL Library. Discover how the Digital Access and Resilience in Texas (DART) curriculum, freely available on the website, is transforming digital literacy for beginning English language learners in Texas and across the country.

10:05 AM – 11:05 AM: Session 2 (60 min)

TWC AEL: Supporting Students with Employment Goals
Patricia (Ann) Savino, Texas Workforce Commission

In this session, learn more about Texas AEL at the Texas Workforce Commission and ways AEL supports students as they focus on entering employment and achieving economic prosperity. Whether through innovative career pathways, workplace literacy on the job site, or other demonstrated approaches that engage learners, Texas AEL values local solutions to meet student, community, and stakeholder needs. Hear from TWC AEL staff and learn about activities, resources, and best practices in moving students from the classroom to in-demand jobs. Free resources will be shared including how to connect students to an AEL provider when they’re ready for that next step in their education, training, and employment path. A brief legislative update will be included.

From Classroom to Career: 4 Steps to Career Exploration and Planning
Victoria Hinojosa, Texas Center for the Advancement of Literacy & Learning (TCALL)

Join this interactive session to learn how to guide adult learners through a structured four-step career exploration process. This method helps educators address the Who, What, and How of career planning.

Discover free online assessments to help learners identify Who they are—their personality type, values, and interests. Learn how to leverage Labor Market Information to determine What career paths align with their strengths.

Finally, explore the two Hows: how to develop a career plan and how to gain relevant experience. Walk away with practical tools and strategies to support your learners in making informed career decisions.

11:10 AM – 12:10 PM: Session 3 (60 min)

The Pinnacle of Career and Training Management
Jacob Mayhew, Southern Careers Institute

Learn how Career Hub connects users to tailored learning pathways, digital credentials, and real-world opportunities. Whether you’re an individual seeking career advancement, an educator preparing students for workforce readiness, or a company investing in employee growth, Career Hub delivers the tools and insights needed for lifelong success.

The Data Dilemma
Dr. Jenny McCormack Walker, Literacy Texas

Without reliable data, Literacy Texas struggles to be able to understand the complete picture of adult literacy across the state. Our organization applied for and was awarded a research grant to design a replicable study that will help our organization get the information it needs in order to best tell our story. This session will focus on the challenges to find consistent data for adult literacy CBOs, and it will outline some of our research goals for coming years. Our hope is that this data can help inform workforce and economic needs across Texas.

12:15 PM: FAREWELL

Program will be kept as current as possible but is subject to change; check back here for updates

GUESTS THIS MONTH

Carlton, Beth

Beth Carlton
Workforce Coordinator
Literacy Council of Bowie & Miller Counties

Beth Carlton is a first-generation college graduate, having earned a bachelor’s degree from Louisiana Tech University in Ruston, and did graduate work at Southeastern Louisiana University at Hammond. Bringing more than 30 years of experience in the educational field, Beth is a retired high school teacher who has a strong desire to help adult learners with workforce readiness, life skills, GED test prep, functional literacy, and other important areas.

From Literacy to Employment: A Successful Partnership Model

This session will showcase the innovative partnership between the Literacy Council of Bowie and Miller Counties and Lost Pizza Co., demonstrating how collaboration between adult education providers and local businesses can create effective pathways to employment for adult learners. Attendees will gain insights into creating mutually beneficial partnerships that empower adult learners, support local businesses, and strengthen the community. This session will provide practical tips for literacy professionals looking to establish similar programs in their areas.

Hinojosa, Victoria

Victoria Hinojosa
Trainer
TCALL

Victoria Hinojosa is passionate about helping people discover how their natural talents and interests can lead to a rewarding career. She has spent over 12 years assisting students in middle schools, high schools, colleges, and adult education and literacy programs navigate through the career exploration and job preparation processes.

After receiving her Bachelor’s of Arts in Mass Communications from Texas State University, she returned to her alma mater to work at the Career Services office. There she learned a lot about career exploration and planning and created a work-based learning program for the student workers under her supervision.

Later, she went on to serve as a Journey Navigator with Workforce Solutions in the Houston-Galveston region. In 2023 she started a faith-based ESOL program in Katy, TX, and is currently an AEL Instructor with Lone Star College. She is an enthusiastic facilitator who believes if you become who you are intended to be you will set the world on fire.

Mayhew, Jacob

Jacob Mayhew
CEO
Southern Careers Institute

Jacob Mayhew is a seasoned education executive with over 20 years of experience, renowned for driving transformative initiatives in career-focused learning. As the past President of Career College Schools of Texas, Jacob played a key role in advancing education solutions that empower students to achieve their career goals through skill-oriented programs and innovative curricula.

Currently, Jacob leads an organization dedicated to supporting Career and Technical Education (CTE) curricula for high schools, universities, and career schools in Texas and across the country. His organization also partners with the Department of Labor to offer both trade and technology apprenticeships, equipping learners with real-world skills and workforce readiness.

A highlight of Jacob’s career was his leadership in the turnaround and public offering of Grand Canyon University in 2008. As one of the executives driving this success, he helped transform the university into a thriving, publicly traded institution.

With a steadfast commitment to lifelong learning and workforce development, Jacob continues to lead efforts that connect education with opportunity, ensuring students and institutions are prepared for the demands of an evolving job market.

The Pinnacle of Career and Training Management

Learn how Career Hub connects users to tailored learning pathways, digital credentials, and real-world opportunities. Whether you’re an individual seeking career advancement, an educator preparing students for workforce readiness, or a company investing in employee growth, Career Hub delivers the tools and insights needed for lifelong success.

Rivas, Kristina

Kristina Rivas
Executive Director
Literacy Council of Bowie & Miller Counties

After returning to Texarkana, Kristina knew that it was her time to step up and help lead the way. She brings with her over 20 years of combined experience in healthcare, marketing, higher education, and as a former small business owner. This work is incredibly personal to her. She knows exactly what can happen when a community steps in because she is the first generation removed from generational poverty. Kristina completed her Human and Family Development thesis and graduated with a Master of Science in Human Services from Stephen F. Austin State University.

From Literacy to Employment: A Successful Partnership Model

This session will showcase the innovative partnership between the Literacy Council of Bowie and Miller Counties and Lost Pizza Co., demonstrating how collaboration between adult education providers and local businesses can create effective pathways to employment for adult learners. Attendees will gain insights into creating mutually beneficial partnerships that empower adult learners, support local businesses, and strengthen the community. This session will provide practical tips for literacy professionals looking to establish similar programs in their areas.

Rose-Glenda

Dr. Glenda Rose
Director
TCALL

Dr. Glenda Rose, Director of TCALL at Texas A&M University, is dedicated to advancing adult literacy in Texas. With a passion for lifelong learning, she has been working with adult learners since 1985 and providing professional development for adult educators since 2005. Her focus is on empowering educators to help adult learners achieve their full potential.

Dr. Rose and her team at TCALL offer a variety of innovative programs and resources to support adult educators in their work.

Unlocking Potential: TCALL Resources for Literacy Providers and Their Adult Learners

The Texas Center for the Advancement of Literacy and Learning (TCALL) has been serving literacy providers in Texas since 1989 with a vision to empower all adults living in Texas to achieve the literacy skills they need to support themselves, their families, and their communities. They accomplish this primarily by supporting literacy providers in local communities.

Join this session to learn about the comprehensive resources available through TCALL, including free resources on their website, the PD Portal for on-demand training and live webinars, the Distance Education PD Call Center, and the extensive TCALL Library. Discover how the Digital Access and Resilience in Texas (DART) curriculum, freely available on the website, is transforming digital literacy for beginning English language learners in Texas and across the country.

Savino, Patricia (Ann)

Patricia (Ann) Savino
Program Director
Texas Workforce Commission

Ann is a program specialist at the Texas Workforce Commission’s division of Adult Education and Literacy providing subject matter expertise and technical assistance to adult education providers on career pathways in Texas. Prior to her work at TWC, she was a small business owner designing educational media projects for national and international projects primarily for English Language Learners. She has held numerous positions with higher education on grants for the U.S. Depart of Labor, U.S. Department of Education, and state grants serving employers and students in need of foundational skills. Her expertise is in building and scaling concurrent education and training initiatives that assist individuals in accessing adult education and job training simultaneously. Ann manages many of the State Leadership initiatives that serve learners in career pathways and assists the agency team in grant writing for special initiatives.

The team at TWC works under the direction of Ms. Mahalia Baldini, State Director of Adult Education and Literacy.

TWC AEL: Supporting Students with Employment Goals

In this session, learn more about Texas AEL at the Texas Workforce Commission and ways AEL supports students as they focus on entering employment and achieving economic prosperity. Whether through innovative career pathways, workplace literacy on the job site, or other demonstrated approaches that engage learners, Texas AEL values local solutions to meet student, community, and stakeholder needs. Hear from TWC AEL staff and learn about activities, resources, and best practices in moving students from the classroom to in-demand jobs. Free resources will be shared including how to connect students to an AEL provider when they’re ready for that next step in their education, training, and employment path. A brief legislative update will be included.

Host:

Dr. Jenny McCormack Walker

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. 

The Data Dilemma

Without reliable data, Literacy Texas struggles to be able to understand the complete picture of adult literacy across the state. Our organization applied for and was awarded a research grant to design a replicable study that will help our organization get the information it needs in order to best tell our story. This session will focus on the challenges to find consistent data for adult literacy CBOs, and it will outline some of our research goals for coming years. Our hope is that this data can help inform workforce and economic needs across Texas.

FREE ONLINE REGISTRATION

click here to register now

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!

PD CERTIFICATES

Someone who completes the full session will receive 3 hours of PD credit.

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.

SPECIAL THANKS

Dr. Glenda Rose and the TCALL team

Ann Savino and the team at TWC

Kristina Rivas, Beth Carlton, and the team at the Literacy Council of Bowie & Miller Counties

Jenny Wilder and the staff of Lost Pizza Co.

The Texas Workforce Commission

STAY IN THE KNOW -

click here to go to the literacy texas calendar
click here to see the national literacy calendar

Or get news directly from Literacy Texas:

Checked/updated 1/30/25

South Texas Literacy Symposium

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Funded by the Professional Development Support for Nonprofit Adult Literacy Organizations grant from the Texas Workforce Commission, regional symposia provide free professional development for volunteers and staff of nonprofit, community-based organizations.

Your local symposium is an excellent place to learn and network with other literacy providers in your region, and a great source of professional development for volunteer instructors.

Thank you so much for your interest!

This event is now over.

QUICK LINKS FOR THE SOUTH TEXAS SYMPOSIUM:

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

BASIC INFORMATION

The 2025 South Texas Literacy Symposium is co-presented by the South Texas Literacy Coalition and Literacy Texas. 

The symposium has the theme “Life’s Tapestry: Art & Words” and will be held on:

Saturday, February 22, 2025, from 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM (CT).

Check-in for registered participants will open at 8:00 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.

The symposium provides up to 5 hours of professional development.

LOCATION

This symposium will be held in the ballroom, UTRGV: 1201 W University Dr, Edinburg, TX 78539.

Click here for map, directions, and parking information

FREE ONLINE REGISTRATION

This session has reached capacity and is no longer accepting new registrations

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

click here to register now

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!

PD CERTIFICATES

Someone who attends a session in every timeslot will receive 5 hours of PD credit.

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.

SYMPOSIUM FAQs

Click on a question to see the answer.

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 over a single 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 5+ hours of professional development


Read more about the symposia here.

Read more about the annual conference here.

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 and family 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.

Two words: LOCAL + FREE!

Each symposium program focuses 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.

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.

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.

PROGRAM, SESSIONS, & SPEAKERS

See the schedule outline below; detailed descriptions of the workshops will be linked here when confirmed.

Click here to see details about the sessions and speakers

Schedule: Saturday, February 22, 2025

Schedule will be kept as current as possible but is subject to change; check back here for updates

8:00 AM – 8:30 AM: CHECK-IN, BREAKFAST

8:30 AM – 8:45 AM: WELCOME, OPENING REMARKS

Dr. Ida Acuña-Garza, South Texas Literacy Coalition
Dr. Jenny McCormack Walker, Literacy Texas

9:00 AM – 10:15 AM

Session 1 (75 min)

Accountability – Telling Your Story
Sabrina Walker-Hernandez, Supporting World Hope, LLC (Nonprofit Management)

Enhancing ESL Instruction with AI: Practical Tools for Engaging Learning
Dr. Irene Ramos, TCALL

Understanding Literacy in a Wider Context
Dr. Ida Acuña-Garza, South Texas Literacy Coalition

10:30 AM – 11:45 AM

Session 2 (75 min)

ESL Alive, Awake, and Fun*
Karen Peiser, TCALL
*Repeated in session 3

English for Employability: Purposeful Planning for Adult Learners
Kenya Preuninger, Pearson Education

Effective PACT (Parent And Child Together) Time
Karla Rodriguez, Educator

12:00 PM – 12:45 PM: WORKING LUNCH + KEYNOTE

SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKER: Amanda Johnston, 2024 Texas Poet Laureate

“Examining Life Through Literacy”

+ Time to visit exhibitors and author tables

1:00 PM – 2:00 PM

Session 3 (60 min)

ESL Alive, Awake, and Fun*
Karen Peiser, TCALL
*Repeated from session 2

Financial Literacy & Budgeting
Dr. Irene Ramos, TCALL

2:15 PM – 3:15 PM

Session 4 (60 min)

Motivating Reluctant Readers
Dr. Arlene Longoria, BLOOM Project
Cassidy Martinez, BLOOM Project

Teaching Civics & Citizenship
Region One ESC – Adult Education

3:15 PM – 3:30 PM: FAREWELL & DOOR PRIZES

Click here to see details about the sessions and speakers

EXHIBITORS

Author – Roy Cervantes

Author – Elizabeth Huerta

Author – David Leija

Author – Faustino Lopez

Author – Rosa Esthela Mora

Author – David Norec

Author – Victor Vasquez

Essential Education

Just Right Reader

Literacy ConneXus

PaperPie Learning

Pearson Education

Region One ESC Adult Education

DOWNLOADS

Download a flyer to display at your location or send to others who may be interested in attending the symposium.

Click here to get the flyer

Download a printable 2-page symposium program (PDF).

Click here to get the program

SPECIAL THANKS TO:

South Texas Literacy Coalition

UTRGV

The Texas Center for Advancement of Literacy & Learning (TCALL)

The Texas Workforce Commission

STAY IN THE KNOW -

click here to go to the literacy texas calendar
click here to see the national literacy calendar

Or get news directly from Literacy Texas:

Checked/updated: 2/26/25

Coffee With Literacy Texas

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Thank you so much for your interest!

This event is now over.

Want to ask a question?

Need some help, or want some new ideas or resources for your literacy program?

Have some feedback or a request for an upcoming training session?

Drop by this virtual session and chat with the Literacy Texas team. All literacy questions welcome!

Join us online on Thursday, January 16, any time between 10:00 AM and 11:00 AM Central (there’s no official “start” to this event, so come whenever you like – and stay for as long or as short a time as you like).

No prior registration is needed. We’re looking forward to sharing a cup of (virtual) coffee with you and seeing where the conversation takes us!

Click here on January 16 to join the session

STAY IN THE KNOW -

click here to go to the literacy texas calendar
click here to see the national literacy calendar

Or get news directly from Literacy Texas:

Checked/updated 1/24/25

Best of Texas: Language Learning

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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 session will be held on:

Thursday, December 19, 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 best practices in language learning, language acquisition, and ESL/ESOL in community-based adult and family literacy programs.

ABOUT THIS SESSION

We’ll start with Dr. Katie Welch (UT-Arlington) to share some data and information about ESL in Texas. Then we’ll switch to an interview format with Betty Reyes (Refugee Language Project) and Ysela Arechiga (Literacy Volunteers of Laredo) who will tell us about their ESL programs and insights they have for language-learning among adult literacy students.

Guests this month:

Welch, Katie

Katie Welch
Educational Consultant
Welch Education

Katie Welch, Ph.D., is a university instructor, teacher trainer, and active volunteer in adult ed classrooms. In addition to teaching international students in UT-Arlington’s English Language Institute and volunteering weekly in a community-based ESL/GED program, Katie currently provides professional development to language teachers through partnerships with the U.S. Department of State, Cambridge University Press, and Literacy ConneXus.

Katie’s innovative classroom ideas have been published in academic journals such as Language and American Speech, and she presents regularly at national and international conferences, including TESOL International, COABE, and the National Center for Families Learning.

Reyes-Medina, Betty 300px

Betty Reyes-Medina
Director of Language Services
Refugee Language Project

Betty Reyes-Medina serves as the Director of Language Services at the Refugee Language Project (RLP) in Amarillo, Texas. Initially joining RLP as a volunteer, she was officially hired in 2022 to lead the Interpreting Services program and oversee the Storybook Project and ESL initiatives. In her efforts to effectively serve the language needs of the refugee population in Amarillo, Betty developed an in-house curriculum tailored to Literacy, Beginner, and Intermediate students. This curriculum has been successfully implemented and continues to yield positive results in the classroom. Betty and her team are passionate about fostering a relational approach to teaching English, emphasizing community and connection.

Betty’s English education journey began in Chile while serving in the United Nations program English Opens Doors. There, she fell in love with teaching and helping others get better access to opportunities through language education. Her deep commitment to service and education inspired her to establish Mochilas para la Esperanza in 2012, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting underserved communities in the Caribbean and Central America. After finishing her M.A. in Teaching English as a Second Language, Betty was hired as a professor at the University of Puerto Rico and other private institutions, where she taught courses in Basic and Intermediate English, Conversational English, Literature, and Research Writing.

Arechiga, Ysela M 300px.

Ysela Arechiga
ESL Specialist
Literacy Volunteers of Laredo

Ysela M. Arechiga retired in December 2022 from the position of Assistant Director, Field Operations – Mission Support for the Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations, Laredo Field Office. Mrs. Arechiga was administratively responsible for managing a $45 million dollar budget and a broad portfolio of departments including Human Capital, Finance, Facilities, Field Training Programs, Strategic Communications, and Labor/Employee Relations. Ysela now volunteers with several organizations including Literacy Volunteers of Laredo, Laredo Theater Guild International and St. Patrick’s Church (Lector) and in her spare time, crochets.

Host:

Dr. Jenny McCormack Walker

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.

click here to register now

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:

Katie Welch & Welch Education

Betty Reyes-Medina & Refugee Language Project

Ysela Arechiga & Literacy Volunteers of Laredo

The Texas Workforce Commission

STAY IN THE KNOW -

click here to go to the literacy texas calendar
click here to see the national literacy calendar

Or get news directly from Literacy Texas:

Checked/updated 12/20/24

Breaking the Stigma: Addressing Mental Health & Substance Use Within Health Literacy

by

Dr. Jenny McCormack Walker

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

My dad and I had a complicated relationship. I loved him, and I know he loved me, but his mental health and substance use issues kept him from being the parent I needed and kept our family in a constant state of instability and stress. He refused to get help, and he lost his career, his family, and his health in the process.

By 2018, he was homeless.  

My dad later told me about how he began having terrible headaches with pain so intense that he would pass out. His appearance reflected his lifestyle, so health care providers were understandably suspicious when he walked into a local health clinic complaining of headaches and asking for medicine to help with the pain. He was sent away multiple times with acetaminophen.

As my dad’s visits to the clinic became more frequent, one doctor decided – out of frustration with his persistent request for pain medicine – to order an MRI to prove to my dad there was nothing wrong.  

The MRI revealed that a large brain tumor was causing his headaches, and subsequent tests found that his cancer was aggressive and had spread throughout his entire body. Without his mental health and substance use issues, he might have found the disease earlier and had a chance to fight it. Instead, he died a few months later.  

Our family’s story is not as uncommon as one might think. According to research from the Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute, there are 1.6 million Texans struggling with substance use disorder, and a vast majority are receiving no intervention. It is common for them to also have mental health concerns.  

When I began my work in adult literacy, I realized that many of my students struggled with these issues. They reminded me of my dad, and I realized that I owed it to these adult learners – and the children in their homes – to use my experience to ensure our health literacy program included education about mental health and substance use. My hope was to turn our personal tragedy into something very positive. 

As part of our program, we connected with mental health providers in our community to find free or low-cost services, and we invited social work interns from the local university to join our team. We also partnered with a local chapter of Narcotics Anonymous to host weekly meetings in one of our classrooms. I did not sit in on the meetings, but the highlight of my week was knowing that room would become a safe space for a community of men and women learning how to create a healthier life.  

As organizations are looking to begin or expand health literacy at their learning centers, I encourage leaders to remember mental health and substance use as important components to a well-rounded program. I cannot help but think about how those supports might have made a difference for my dad and for our family.  

October is Health Literacy Month, and we’re focusing on health-related topics throughout the month. Find general resources here, and plan to join us at Best of Texas: Health Literacy on October 31.

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Best of Texas: Family Literacy

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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:

Stephens, Fran-Victoria

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. 

Martinez, Anjela

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. 

Jennings, LeeAnn 300px

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

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.

click here to register now

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 -

click here to go to the literacy texas calendar
click here to see the national literacy calendar

Or get news directly from Literacy Texas:

Checked/updated 11/25/24

Best of Texas: Health Literacy

by

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 session will be held on:

Thursday, October 31, 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

Many adult students and families need health literacy for their own lives. And others make a whole career out of it! Learn from some local Texas experts about what they’re doing in their programs to help connect adult learners to health literacy opportunities.

Join us for this virtual session where we will hear from Dr. Teresa Wagner, Director of the University of North Texas Health Science Center State Certified Community Health Worker Training Center. She will share information about her program and how health literacy impacts underserved communities in Texas. We will also chat with Natasha Duncan (East Texas Literacy Council) and Cindy Sutherin (Ysleta Community Learning Center) who have successful health occupations programs in their learning centers.  

Guests this month:

Sizemore, Cindy 300px

Cindy Sutherin
Director
Ysleta Community Learning Center

Cindy Sutherin is a passionate, driven educator with over 30 years experience across all ages, from 3 years to 70+ year-old students. She has worked in multi-lingual and multi-cultural education, program development, student advocacy, and leadership development.

She is currently the director of the Ysleta Community Learning Center, YCLC, in El Paso Texas which serves adults seeking education and training for greater economic opportunity and access. 

YCLC focuses on working with students to develop pathways to career advancement that include language, literacy, and training primarily in the career fields of Transportation, Distribution and Logistics and Health Science. 

Duncan, Natasha

Natasha Duncan
Executive Director
East Texas Literacy Council

Natasha Duncan is the Executive Director for the East Texas Literacy Council in Longview Texas. Her background is in early child education from the University of Maryland. She has a passion for Adult Education in her community.

Natasha has 20 plus years in non-profit management; her extensive background of working in low-income communities helped her to focus her efforts on the lasting effects that education can have on families and the catalyst it can be for future generations. She is a proud wife, and mother of two Longview Lobos.

This year Natasha was featured as a member in our community that makes a difference with Texas Bank and Trust; she keeps active community representation of adult education and nonprofit leadership with her Chamber of Commerce. She has enjoyed collaborating with Longview ISD, city organizations and Greater Longview United Way for speaking engagements, sits on several community boards in her city and has a passion for making a difference in her community. 

Wagner, Teresa

Teresa Wagner
Director
UNTHSC State Certified Community Health Worker Training Center

Dr. Wagner is a registered and licensed dietitian with a doctorate in public health. She’s certified in Public Health, Patient Safety, Lifestyle Medicine, Health Coaching, and a certified Community Health Worker (CHW) Instructor. Dr. Wagner is an associate professor in the School of Public Health at UNT Health Science Center.

Dr. Wagner is the Director of the UNTHSC State Certified Community Health Worker Training Center. Her research focuses on alleviating health disparities in underserved communities through health literacy. She’s a sought-after presenter and mentor who works to certify community health workers as conduits to health literacy who help alleviate community barriers to health.

As a result of her work, she has received the 2018 Texas Health Literacy Hero Award and the 2020 Distinguished Alumni Award from Texas Christian University. In 2023, she received the UNTHSC School of Health Professions Faculty Achievement Award. In 2024, she received the Texas Distinguished Dietitian Award and a Global Service Award from the International Health Literacy Association.

Host:

Dr. Jenny McCormack Walker

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.

click here to register now

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:

Cindy Sutherin

Natasha Duncan

Teresa Wagner

The Texas Workforce Commission

STAY IN THE KNOW -

click here to go to the literacy texas calendar
click here to see the national literacy calendar

Or get news directly from Literacy Texas:

Checked/updated: 10/31/24

Coffee With Literacy Texas

by

Thank you so much for your interest!

This event is now over.

Want to ask a question?

Need some help, or want some new ideas or resources for your literacy program?

Have some feedback or a request for an upcoming training session?

Drop by this virtual session and chat with the Literacy Texas team. All literacy questions welcome!

Join us online on Thursday, October 10, any time between 9:00 AM and 10:00 AM (there’s no official “start” to this event, so come whenever you like – and stay for as long or as short a time as you like).

No prior registration is needed. We’re looking forward to sharing a cup of (virtual) coffee with you and seeing where the conversation takes us!

Click here on October 10 to join the session

STAY IN THE KNOW -

click here to go to the literacy texas calendar
click here to see the national literacy calendar

Or get news directly from Literacy Texas:

Checked/updated 9/24/24

Best of Texas: Outreach & Advocacy

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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 coming!

This event is now over.

This online discussion will be held on:

Thursday, September 26, 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 panel discussion will focus on how to do outreach and advocacy in your local community.

ABOUT THIS SESSION

Join Dr. Jenny McCormack Walker to learn about preferred practices for advocacy and outreach. Learn practical tips for building relationships with elected officials, media, and business leaders in your community. Jenny will show you how to access and understand adult literacy data for your county.

She will then be joined by Federico Salas-Isnardi from the Houston Mayor’s Office for Adult Literacy who will talk about the exciting advocacy work happening in Houston and his work through the national All-In Campaign.

There will be time available for advocacy questions and answers with Jenny and Federico.  

Salas-Isnardi, Federico

Federico Salas-Isnardi
Director
Mayor’s Office for Adult Literacy

Federico Salas-Isnardi is Director of the Mayor’s Office for Adult Literacy in Houston, Texas, where he leads innovative collaborations to address issues at the intersection of adult education and equity. He oversaw the development of Houston’s Adult Literacy Blueprint, a strategic plan to rebrand and reimagine Adult Literacy with a focus on digital equity.

A linguist by training, Federico is an adult ESL and literacy educator, diversity, social justice and equity trainer, and professional developer with 35 years of experience in adult education.

Federico was interim CEO of Literacy Texas in 2018 after serving as an ex-officio member of the Literacy Texas Board for 9 years. He is currently a member of the Coordinating Council of the Adult Literacy National Action Plan and serves on the board of advisors of the TexShare Consortium of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission.

Dr. Jenny McCormack Walker

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. 

Registration will open soon – watch this space

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

click here to register now

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:

Federico Salas-Isnardi & The Mayor’s Office for Adult Literacy

The Texas Workforce Commission

STAY IN THE KNOW -

click here to go to the literacy texas calendar
click here to see the national literacy calendar

Or get news directly from Literacy Texas: