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 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.

Volunteer Tutors Needed

Learn About Resources Available to Caregivers & Seniors

(SAPULPA, OK – February 6, 2019) Free workshop offered in Sapulpa on March 5

Join Creek County Literacy Program on Tuesday, March 5 at 1:00 PM for a free workshop entitled Learn About Resources Available to Caregivers & Seniors. Open to the public, this informative workshop will be held at Creek County Literacy Program, 15 North Poplar Street in Sapulpa.

During the workshop, Caregiver Program Coordinator Martha Rains, Morton Comprehensive Health Services, Inc., will share information about resources available to Caregivers and seniors in the Creek County area. “We will discuss the many resources that are available to caregivers and seniors – many of these are not widely known about, and many are no-cost,” shared Rains. “We will discuss how to access these resources and handouts will be available.”

Learn About Resources Available to Caregivers & Seniorsis a health literacy outreach project of Creek County Literacy Program, the Oklahoma Department of Libraries, with funding provided by the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) and the Institute of Museum and Library Services. 

For more information or to register for this free workshop, please call 918-224-9647.