The Iowa Literacy Council was established to make a concentrated effort to coordinate literacy programs statewide, to minimize the duplication of such services, and to provide assistance to those individuals in need of the basic skills.
The Iowa Literacy Council is committed to improving the literacy and basic skills levels of Iowa adults in the context of family, community, and workplace.
Below you will find information about the Iowa Literacy Council’s Vision/Mission/Goals, the Board members, by-laws and our policies and procedures.
Our Value/Mission & Goals
Mission
Every Iowan has the literacy skills to reach their personal and professional goals.
Values
To provide support, advocacy, and resources, along with business and community partners, that enable Iowans to access literacy building opportunities to effectively navigate everyday life.
Goals
– Seek to identify persons in need of literacy training and strive to serve any Iowan with a demonstrable need for these services.
– Coordinate literacy programs in Iowa.
– Serve as a clearinghouse for information on the literacy services available in Iowa.
– Provide greater visibility to literacy programs in Iowa, and encourage Iowans to volunteer their assistance.
– Provide technical support to literacy volunteers and literacy programs
By-laws
Board Members
Juan Garcia
President
Juan M. Garcia, originally from Peru, has over 18 years of multicultural education experience. His expertise in student success, outreach, and Spanish language skills have helped over one million students in his K12 and post-secondary career. His leadership positions include ClassWallet (State Director), Amazon corporate (Higher Education team), ACT Center for Equity in Learning, and international student outreach in Canada and Latin America. Mr. Garcia is the recipient of ACT’s Award for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. He graduated from the Harvard Business School, Executive Education program. Juan holds a BS Business Administration degree from Universidad de Lima, Peru, and has completed graduate coursework at Florida State University, the University of Michigan, the University of Pennsylvania, and the University of Notre Dame. Contact Juan
Jessica Frederickson
Vice President
Jessica Frederickson brings over 20 years of experience in education to her current role as the Executive Director of Higher Education in Prison and Adult Education and Literacy at Des Moines Area Community College.
Throughout her career, Jessica has demonstrated a strong commitment to adult education. She has served as an Adult Education Workforce Coordinator at Iowa Workforce Development, a Training Specialist with the Iowa Department of Corrections, and a Correctional Education Instructor at Des Moines Area Community College. Her leadership extends to active involvement in key professional organizations, in addition to the Iowa Literacy Council, including the Iowa Consortium for Higher Education in Prison, the HiSET Community Advisory Board, and the Coalition on Adult Basic Education.
Jessica holds a Master’s in Education and two Bachelor’s degrees. Her expertise, leadership, and dedication to advancing adult education and literacy position her as a driving force in shaping the educational landscape in Iowa. Contact Jessica
Jayne Smith
Secretary
Jayne Smith has worked in education for 42 years. Thirty-seven of these years were spent in higher education. She began her work in higher education at Des Moines Area Community College. Her leadership positions included Director of Learning Resources and Director of Grants, Contracts, and Federal Relations. She also worked at Drake University for twelve years as Director of Sponsored Programs and Grants Management. In 2015, Jayne joined the Iowa Department of Education as an Education Consultant for Adult Education and Literacy. After the Iowa Department of Education, Jayne worked for three years at the Iowa College Student Aid Commission as a Postsecondary Authorization Administrator. She retired from this position in January 2023.
Jayne has a Juris Doctor degree from Drake University, a Master of Arts in Library Media from the University of South Dakota, and a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Northern Iowa. Contact Jayne
Barbara Ledvina
Treasurer
Barbara Ledvina has degree in Business Management from the University of Northern Iowa, and a degree in Elementary Education from Upper Iowa University. She worked for the Iowa Department of Education for 16 years in the Division of Community Colleges and Workforce Preparation. She retired in April of 2021. She enjoys reading and spending time with her four grandchildren and her husband. Contact Barbara
Korianne Gevaert
Korianne is the high school completion coordinator at Hawkeye Community College. She has a MA in mathematics and a BA in mathematics education. She has been working in the education field for 12 years, and this is her 8th year working with adult students. She previously taught HiSET mathematics for 6 years and has worked as the coordinator for her program for the past 2 years.
Megan Linzy-Johnson
Megan Linzy-Johnson works with Eastern Iowa Community Colleges (EICC) in Davenport, Iowa, in the Adult Basic Education and Literacy program at the West Davenport Center, where she graduated in 2013 with her General Education Diploma. Since 2013, Megan has gone on to earn her Associates’ Degree in Education and is enrolled at Bellevue University to earn her Bachelors Degree in Adult Basic Education. Megan also volunteers her time advocating for the needs of Adult Basic Education students as one of Iowa’s Adult Basic Education Ambassadors and a member of the Students as Leaders Taskforce through COABE (Coalition on Adult Basic Education). Contact Megan
Natalie Miller
Natalie Miller is the Manager of English Language Learning and Family Literacy at Hawkeye Community College. She has been working in ELL for 15+ years and in Adult Education for 3 years.
Natalie has an MA in TESOL from the University of Northern Iowa. She lives in Waterloo, IA with her husband and three children.
Cory Wenthe
Cory Wenthe brings 28 years of diverse experience in the field of education. His extensive career includes roles as a substitute teacher, classroom teacher, special education teacher, and school administrator. Cory’s professional experience encompasses work in parochial and public schools, as well as at Woodward Academy, a non-profit residential treatment facility for at-risk male youth. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Education from Upper Iowa University and a Master’s in School Leadership from St. Ambrose University. Contact Cory