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
Policies & Procedures
ILC Policy and Procedures Handbook
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
Eric Sundermeyer
Treasurer
Eric Sundermeyer’s is the Associate Director, Adult Education & Literacy at Des Moines Area Community College. He is the former superintendent of schools at the Interstate 35 Community School District and associate superintendent at the Ottumwa community Schools. Eric has a Specialist in Education from Drake University. Contact Eric
Megan Linzy
Megan Linzy 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
Jayne Smith
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. A life-long native of Iowa, she especially enjoys spending time with her family, six grandchildren, book club, and various church activities. She currently resides in Ankeny, IA with her husband, Randy. Contact Jayne