Posts Tagged ‘Creek County’
Creek County Literacy Program’s New Executive Director
Creek County Literacy Program in Sapulpa, announces the appointment of Debra Chandler as its new Executive Director, effective April 1, 2024. Debra brings a wealth of experience and a deep commitment to literacy and community development to her new role.
Debra Chandler joins Creek County Literacy Program with a strong background in education, library services, and community engagement. Most recently, she served as the Assistant Librarian at Sapulpa Public Library, where she played a pivotal role in promoting literacy initiatives and fostering a love for reading among patrons. Her dedication to promoting literacy extends beyond the library, as she has also served as a substitute teacher in Sapulpa Public Schools and has been actively involved in various educational and literary organizations.
“I am honored to join Creek County Literacy Program and continue the vital work of promoting literacy and empowering individuals in our community,” said Debra Chandler. “I am passionate about providing access to education and resources that can transform lives, and I look forward to collaborating with our dedicated team and community partners to advance our mission.”
Debra Chandler holds a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from Oklahoma City University and a Bachelor of Arts in English from Rogers State University, with a minor in TV and Radio Broadcasting. Her extensive educational background and her experience in creative writing and literary studies uniquely position her to lead Creek County Literacy Program into its next chapter of growth and impact.
“We are thrilled to welcome Debra Chandler as our new Executive Director,” said Greg Pugmire, Board Chair of Creek County Literacy Program. “Her passion for literacy, expertise, and dedication makes her the ideal leader to guide our organization. We are confident that under her leadership, Creek County Literacy Program will continue to thrive and make a meaningful difference in the lives of individuals and families in our community.”
Debra Chandler succeeds Melissa Struttmann, who has served as Executive Director of Creek County Literacy Program since 2013 and has held the positions of President and Treasurer for the Oklahoma Literacy Coalition. The board expresses its deepest gratitude to Melissa for her years of dedicated service and wishes her all the best in her future endeavors.
Creek County Literacy Program
About the Organization
Creek County Literacy Program (CCLP) began in 1989 with the mission to provide Adult Literacy services in Creek County. We began in a small room in the basement of the library. Around 2007, our building was erected through funding by Friends of the Library and the Bartlett Foundation. The City owns and maintains our 5,000 square foot building and our stipulation is we are to only provide literacy related outreaches here.
CCLP now provides Adult Literacy, Youth Literacy and Health Literacy Outreaches. We do offer Computer/Technology Literacy help on a one-on-one basis, but we no longer provide workshops. Under the Youth Literacy umbrella is our Caring Grands Reading Program. Tutors work with the same child weekly, first and second grade struggling readers, to help increase their sight word recognition. The child is gifted a book each week to build a personal home library.
We have had three executive directors. One was here a few years. The current Executive Director Melissa Struttmann replaced Barbara Belk, who retired after 19 years of service. Melissa was hired in January 2013.
CCLP is governed by a board of directors comprised of about 15 local volunteers. They meet monthly, breaking in June and July.
CCLP has one major fundraiser, the Spelling Bee, which has been converted to a “non-event” fundraiser for two years to skirt large gatherings. They will resume holding it in person in 2024. Please click this link to see more information about this year’s Spelling Bee and consider donating–while not attending.
CCLP has been a Tulsa Area United Way Agency since 1991.
Registration numbers have decreased since Covid and have been slow to resume. Our 2022 numbers:
- 15 adult students
- 55 youth students
- 66 Caring Grand Volunteers
- 163 Caring Grand students and
- 633 health literacy attendees
Last month, CCLP hosted the Symposium: Focusing on Adult Learners in partnership with Oklahoma Literacy Coalition.
About the Executive Director
Melissa Struttmann came to CCLP after a position with the American Diabetes Association where she managed the Step Out fundraising event and was responsible for a $190k fundraising goal. Before that, she was the Director of Member Services with the Jenks Chamber of Commerce. Before that, she had a home-based community magazine called the Jenks Express. It was direct mailed to 8,000 homes and businesses each month. It was 40 pages, Melissa wrote the articles, sold the ad space and did the layout. And affixed the 8,000 labels each month (with a little child labor help). She had been a Stay-At-Home-Mom to six kids, one profoundly disabled, about 18 years. Melissa had always been a part of fundraising events in her church and volunteered by doing weekly bulletins and newsletters.
Melissa is the Treasurer for Oklahoma Literacy Coalition. We are very glad to have her and her experience.
Creek County Literacy Program Offers Free Tutor Training Workshop to Adult Volunteers
Help Teach An Adult to Read. Become a Volunteer Literacy Tutor.
(SAPULPA, OK – October 6, 2022) Adult literacy volunteers are needed to help Creek County area adults improve reading, writing and basic math skills.
- Twenty percent of adults in Creek County 18 to 24 years old do not have a high school diploma.
- Ten percent of adults in Creek County 25 years of age and older do not have a high school diploma.
- Twelve percent of Oklahoma adults – more than 400,000 – are functionally illiterate.
Creek County Literacy Program is a non-profit organization that trains adults to become volunteer literacy tutors, and then matches those tutors with adult learners. To become a tutor, individuals must attend Creek County Literacy Program’s free one-day Tutor Training workshop. Knowledge of another language is not necessary and no prior teaching experience is required. This workshop is scheduled for Wednesday, October 26 from 9am to 4pm at Creek County Literacy Program, 15 North Poplar Street in Sapulpa. Lunch is provided.
Presenter Joanie Mullins earned both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Elementary Education with an emphasis on Curriculum and Instruction from Oklahoma State University. She retired from Sapulpa Public Schools after 34 years of teaching in grades K-3. Her last 5 years of teaching were in the Title I Reading and Math program where she worked with small groups of students in grades K-5 who needed more instruction in Reading and/or Math. She has been a Caring Grand volunteer for 4 years.
For more information or to register for this free workshop, please call 918-224-9647.
About Creek County Literacy Program
For 32 years CCLP has worked to improve the quality of life in our community by promoting and achieving literacy. One in five adults 18-24 years old in our county do not have a high school diploma. One in ten adults 25 years of age and older in our county do not have a high school diploma. Forty-one percent of students kindergarten through third grade in our county receive reading remediation. Through extensive outreach and collaboration with a network of community partners, CCLP strives to ensure that individuals who need to improve their literacy skills receive the help they need. CCLP’s Mission is to help every child and adult in Creek County to read through tutoring, technology and health literacy outreaches. CCLP’s Vision is for every child and adult in Creek County to read proficiently.
Creek County Literacy Program Offers Free Tutor Training Workshop to Adult Volunteers
Help Teach An Adult to Read. Become a Volunteer Literacy Tutor.
(SAPULPA, OK – October 6, 2022) Adult literacy volunteers are needed to help Creek County area adults improve reading, writing and basic math skills.
- Twenty percent of adults in Creek County 18 to 24 years old do not have a high school diploma.
- Ten percent of adults in Creek County 25 years of age and older do not have a high school diploma.
- Twelve percent of Oklahoma adults – more than 400,000 – are functionally illiterate.
Creek County Literacy Program is a non-profit organization that trains adults to become volunteer literacy tutors, and then matches those tutors with adult learners. To become a tutor, individuals must attend Creek County Literacy Program’s free one-day Tutor Training workshop. Knowledge of another language is not necessary and no prior teaching experience is required. This workshop is scheduled for Wednesday, October 26 from 9am to 4pm at Creek County Literacy Program, 15 North Poplar Street in Sapulpa. Lunch is provided.
Presenter Joanie Mullins earned both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Elementary Education with an emphasis on Curriculum and Instruction from Oklahoma State University. She retired from Sapulpa Public Schools after 34 years of teaching in grades K-3. Her last 5 years of teaching were in the Title I Reading and Math program where she worked with small groups of students in grades K-5 who needed more instruction in Reading and/or Math. She has been a Caring Grand volunteer for 4 years.
For more information or to register for this free workshop, please call 918-224-9647.
About Creek County Literacy Program
For 32 years CCLP has worked to improve the quality of life in our community by promoting and achieving literacy. One in five adults 18-24 years old in our county do not have a high school diploma. One in ten adults 25 years of age and older in our county do not have a high school diploma. Forty-one percent of students kindergarten through third grade in our county receive reading remediation. Through extensive outreach and collaboration with a network of community partners, CCLP strives to ensure that individuals who need to improve their literacy skills receive the help they need. CCLP’s Mission is to help every child and adult in Creek County to read through tutoring, technology and health literacy outreaches. CCLP’s Vision is for every child and adult in Creek County to read proficiently.
