06/03/2026
Bookworms….Day 2…I’d not be being completely honest if I said being an executive director of a literacy nonprofit in Fort Worth Texas was an easy or glamorous job, especially in the current education climate (yes we all know only 37% of FWISD kids can read on grade level) and especially for this teacher- at-heart who really loves just being with kids because they are infinitely more fun and kinder than grown ups 😉. The behind the scenes work our board and team and I do - data, grants, reporting, deadlines, program evaluation, board meetings, staffing, financials, making the printers in our office work 🤣, you know the day to day just never ends. You can get lost in that stuff - the background stuff. And then some days are plain hard for all sorts of reasons - today was that sort of day.
But then there is this. My own Clara (she’s autistic) setting up a token economy and reward system for a student with behaviors so he can be there and learn with dignity because she understands only too well how hard it is to be excluded from learning because of behavior; 5 kids really too old for the program showing up speaking hardly any English but needing a school lunch and help, National Charity League, Inc. volunteers showing up because they love kids and Literacy United, and 4 of the best teachers ,ridiculously underpaid (teachers btw are always underpaid/underfunded) showing up during their summer break and doing the work because they believe in the mission.
This is not a “do alone” job and it is not for the faint of heart. Thanks to everyone who is out in the trenches with us . I still believe love wins and we keep going not matter the cost.
These pictures are more powerful than my words. The invitation to join us is open - www.literacyUnited.org.