The Literacy Council of Bowie and Miller Counties
Founded in 1986 through the Texarkana Public Library, the Literacy Council has served as the area's leading community education center helping thousands residents meet academic and workforce goals. Students can learn a diverse set of knowledge and skills including math, reading, technology, foreign language, and test preparation, among other subject areas.
The Literacy Council is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that is governed by a board of directors and is managed by an executive director. The Council also is proud to partner with AmeriCorps to have four part-time volunteers who work with students. Additionally, the Council is proud to have interns from Texas A&M University - Texarkana and a number of community volunteers on its team.
All of our classes, programs, and services are completely free, and we are fully funded by the kindness of those in the Texarkana community, along with grants.
Our Team
Jenny Walker, Executive Director
As a Texarkana native, Jenny believes that changing the world begins with loving the people in our own community. She is a first-generation college student who personally knows the role that education plays in helping change the course of a person's life. She takes the responsibility of her position very seriously, and she is passionate about student success and using education to help empower those in poverty. She has worked in education for 20 years in all levels including elementary, secondary, and adult/higher education. She is a doctoral candidate in education leadership at Texas A&M University - Texarkana, where she focuses her research on emancipatory leadership and the education of adult learners from low-socioeconomic families. She holds a master's degree in education administration from A&M, and she earned a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of North Texas. She graduated from Liberty-Eylau High School, and is married to Greg, her high school sweetheart. They have two children and a dog, and the Walkers live in Texarkana.
Kristina Rivas-Jones, Education and Career Coordinator
Kristina Rivas-Jones’s career includes more than a decade of experience in higher education, marketing, and healthcare, as well as success as a small business owner. The Texarkana native is finishing up a master’s degree in human sciences with a focus on human development and family studies at Stephen F. Austin University. For her thesis, she is researching the sustainability of the 100 Families program that helps families move from crisis to career. She will use this research to inform her practice as the coordinator of the 100 Families Alliance in both Bowie and Miller Counties. She holds a bachelor’s degree in nuclear medicine from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. She graduated from Texas High School and is married to Parker. They have three children and a dog. The Jones family lives in Texarkana.
Elaine Willis
Elaine serves as our administrative assistant, and she keeps us all organized and running smoothly. Elaine has a master's degree in Instructional Technology and a bachelor's degree in General Studies from Texas A&M University - Texarkana.