Literacy Challenge 

Committee Contest

 

Outstanding Service 

of DAR Member

 

 

 

 

Nancy Kerr Brandli is an outstanding community literacy volunteer.   She began as an adult literacy volunteer in 1980, and was certified as a tutor for Literacy Volunteers in America ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages).  At that time she worked with resettled Vietnamese refugees in Galveston County, Texas.  In 1985, she was certified as a Laubach ESL (English as a Second Language) tutor and worked with Hispanic students at Clear Creek High School in League City, Texas.  She was recognized as a Master Tutor (1,000 hours) in 1987. 

 

In 1988, Nancy and her husband moved to Liberty, Texas, and she became involved with R.E.A.D., an adult literacy program at the Liberty Municipal Library.  At the same time, she began training as an Adult Tutor Trainer, and was subsequently certified.  She now tutors and trains for Pro-Literacy, the new parent organization.

 

This outstanding volunteer served as Literacy Chair for South Texas and Southern Louisiana for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America from 1993 to 1998.  She has presented many literacy programs to church groups, has trained tutors, and has participated in numerous national events for Women & Children in Poverty. She now chairs the Commission for Women for Texas and Louisiana for the ELCA, an organization whose chief objective is mentoring.   Nancy is active in many community activities. She is president of Woman’s Federated Club, president of Friends of the Library,  and a member of both the Master Gardener Association and the Liberty Jubilee Celebration.

 

Nancy currently serves as the Chair for R.E.A.D., and has been responsible for receipt of $25,000.00 in community grants since 1996.  This talented lady developed, coordinated, and received specific funding for the new ESL program for Hispanic Women as part of Liberty County R.EA.D.’s programming.  In the three years of the present ESL program, Nancy has tutored 143 Hispanic students, with over one-half now gainfully employed.  Eight of these have received GEDs.  The new computer learning lab at the library is also the result of Nancy's vision and funding skills.  These computers are used to teach English, typing, computer skills, Power Point ™ classes. A program on search engines and use of the Internet is in the planning stages.

 

Nancy has shown dedication and perseverance in her quest to make literacy available to those who seek it.  Libertad Chapter is very proud of its treasurer and her accomplishments in the field of literacy.   Nancy Kerr Brandli definitely deserves to be recognized as a DAR member who has accomplished outstanding achievements in the promotion of literacy in America.