How very strange—and wonderful— it is to realize that, after working at something for most of your adult life, you still have the capacity to learn. I am someone who avoids too much introspection, but that changed when, after a long career as an editor and writer, I retired from the Smithsonian Institution. Anyone...
Catherine Coundjeris’ love of words and writing has been a constant in her life, from her days teaching college students the art of writing to her decision to share her passion for literacy with students needing help learning the basics. “After moving to Frederick, I sought out the Literacy Council Of Frederick County in 2011,”...
The Literacy Council has been quietly growing its English-language instruction to parents of children in Frederick County Title 1 elementary schools. Founded in 2017 with three schools, the Parent Literacy Program has now doubled the size of its reach to six schools, and last year, helped 70 parents learn how to speak, write, and read...
Catherine Mock has the kind of resume—from corporate training, running an insurance consulting business and strategic planning, to human resources and volunteer leadership—that makes her a formidable president of the Literacy Council Board of Directors. “I am very excited about my role on the board and to work with people who share my passion” about...
The Literacy Council of Frederick County’s Board of Directors at its June Board Meeting approved its slate of new officers for the coming year fiscal year which begins this month. We are also excited to welcome and introduce our four new members! New officers (from left to right) include President Catherine Mock; Vice-President...
Ed Rose is known among his peers at the Literacy Council for his generosity and heart. In fact, the tutor’s end-of-semester gifts to his students are colorful handmade leather shawls he brings back from his trips to Cotacachi, a little village in Ecuador famous for its handmade leather goods. He is very impressed by how...
When asked to describe her background, volunteer literacy tutor Janet Millward replies, “My background is pretty varied.” This, it turns out, is quite an understatement. “I got my degree in microbiology and worked in the biotech industry for years,” she says. Later, she drew on her “science and writing skills” as a freelance technical writer...
The Literacy Council is celebrating Volunteer Appreciation Week April 21-27 this week by paying tribute to our 175+ wonderful long-time and new volunteers! Having just completed celebrating our 60th Year Anniversary YOU are critical to our nonprofit’s ability to support over 10,000 adults in our Frederick County community who struggled with functional literacy skills. Whether you are...
Enter into a conversation with Literacy Council volunteer tutor Hilary Pettigrew and soon you will find yourself taken by her warmth, humor, and of course, that Glaswegian accent. “I’m originally from the United Kingdom, so I always add that when I say that I’m from New Jersey.” The accent gives her away every time. After...
When Erin Runkles was looking for another way to make good use of her skills as an English teacher in 2021, she came across the website for the Literacy Council of Frederick County. “I knew nothing about it, but I gave it a try,” and three years later, Erin continues as a volunteer with the...
