When resources are tight, it can be difficult to know where to turn to get answers on core topics – but those answers are crucial to leaders’ ability to offer quality programs.
What Leaders Need, for new and emerging literacy leaders, is presented via a tri-state partnership. Literacy Texas is proud to partner with Adult Learning Alliance of Arkansas and Oklahoma Literacy Coalition to bring quality professional development to literacy leaders across three states.
Read more about the What Leaders Need quarterly online training series.
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QUICK LINKS FOR THIS WHAT LEADERS NEED SESSION:
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BASIC DETAILS
This online session will be held on:
Thursday, December 4, 2025, from 9:00 AM to 10:30 AM (CT).
Check-in for registered participants will open on Zoom at 8:50 AM.
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 Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Texas nonprofit professionals who work in the fields of adult and family literacy.
ABOUT THIS TOPIC
Volunteers can make so many good things happen, and can help adult literacy programs with lean budgets do more than would otherwise be possible.
So where can you find reliable folks?
What’s reasonable to expect of them in terms of training and ongoing time commitment?
How can you show your gratitude in ways that resonate?
And above all – how can you be sure that what a volunteer can provide is what the adult students in your literacy programs need?
In this panel discussion, hear from adult literacy professionals who work closely with volunteers, about what they’ve learned and how they make it all work.
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.
MEET THE PANELISTS
Bruce Davis
Coordinator| Great Plains Literacy Council
Bruce Davis is a retired pastor who has maintained a deep commitment to the cause of literacy. Throughout his career and into retirement, he has remained actively involved in promoting literacy within his community.
Before retiring, he dedicated seven years to serving as a board member for the Great Plains Literacy Council (GPLC) in Altus, Oklahoma. Five of those years, he served as the board president. His board experience provided him with valuable insight into the challenges and opportunities facing literacy organizations in rural areas.
When the position of Coordinator for the Great Plains Literacy Council was left vacant, he decided to step into the role in 2022. As Coordinator, Bruce focuses on managing the overall program and staff, securing funding, handling publicity, and recruiting both tutors and learners. Although the job encompasses many tasks, he especially enjoys sharing the organization’s story and recruiting new participants.
Bruce has recently begun a second term as President of the Oklahoma Literacy Coalition. This role allows him to contribute to literacy efforts at the state level, expanding his impact beyond his immediate community.
Todd Evans
Senior Director of Programs | ProLiteracy
Todd Evans is the Senior Director of Programs for ProLiteracy. He is responsible for the strategic direction and management of the services ProLiteracy provides to the adult education field, including professional development, domestic and international projects and partnerships, and membership.
Todd has been with ProLiteracy since 1995. He has spent most of his time with ProLiteracy providing training and support to tutors, teachers, students, and program managers in a variety of subjects.
Todd graduated from Memphis State University (now the University of Memphis) in 1990 with a Bachelor’s Degree in International Relations. He started work on a Master’s degree in Sociology, but stopped to begin working for the Memphis Literacy Council.
Todd began his literacy career in Memphis, TN, first as a volunteer tutor for the Memphis Literacy Council, and later as a staff member where he was an administrative assistant, community liaison, and trainer.
Todd is a member of many literacy and training organizations, including the Literacy Roundtable, a consortium of literacy providers throughout the St. Louis-Metro East area.
Todd has lived in St. Louis since 2001. Outside of literacy, he enjoys cooking and sports, particularly playing golf and watching University of Tennessee football and Cardinal baseball.
Sonia Vazquez
Director| ESL Classes in Plano
Sonia Vazquez has volunteered at Prestonwood Baptist Church-Plano Campus since 2000, where she has taught Level 5 and Citizenship classes and served as Director of the ESL Program for the past 14 years. The program currently serves over 500 students with 65 volunteers, using the Ventures Series by Cambridge University. Offering 21 classes each semester, it maintains a 75–80% return rate and a waiting list of 250–350 students, with registration opening three months in advance due to high demand.
Dana Venhaus
Executive Director | Literacy Action of Central Arkansas
Dana Venhaus has been Executive Director of Literacy Action of Central Arkansas since 2022. Prior to that she was with Arkansas Extended Learning, a private community education organization she founded and managed for 20 years. She has an undergraduate degree in psychology, did her master’s work in Public Administration and is a certified public manager and certified volunteer manager.
Dana lives in Little Rock with her four-legged kids, loves spending time with family and friends, reading, traveling, pickleball, and all things outdoors. Her daughter and son-in-law live in San Francisco.
HOST
Dr. Jenny McCormack Walker
Executive Director
Literacy Texas
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.
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
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Page checked/updated: 12/04/25
