Literacy Source Staff

Waiting to Welcome You


Anne Helmholz
Executive Director 
Anne has worked with adult learners and Literacy Source for many years. Lifelong learning is something that Anne believes in strongly and finds absolutely necessary for getting on in this world. Anne is responsible for the organization's consistent achievement of its mission and financial objectives. She administers and monitors all programs, personnel, and resources and conducts planning activities on behalf of literacy and organizational issues. Anne has a Master's degree in education and years of rich experience with wise, creative volunteers; enthusiastic, informed staff; newly educated instructors, and the inspiring, diverse adult learners at Literacy Source.



INSTRUCTION

Janet Arbogast
Community Literacy Coordinator  
Janet coordinates classes and partnerships in South King County as well as teaching ESOL both on and off-site. She has a Master's degree from Seattle University in adult education and basic skills and enjoys continually learning alongside her fellow staff and students. 

Isabel Childs
WorkFirst Instructional Advisor
As an Instructional Advisor, Isabel works with a caseload of learners to assist them in achieving learning and life goals. She also coordinates Literacy Source's WorkFirst program, and collaborates with a team of advisors to provide class coordination, volunteer support, grant management and general ongoing program needs. Isabel holds an MA in TESL from the School for International Training in Vermont. Previous work in ESL has taken her to refugee camps in Thailand, Private language academies in Spain, and the academic ESL program at Montana State University in Bozeman.

Eileen Danz
King County Corrections Facility Counselor 
Eileen teaches basic skills to men and women in Literacy Source's Transitions class at King County Correctional Facility. She holds a Master's degree in adult education and began her work at Literacy Source as an Americorps* VISTA Member. After her year of VISTA service was over, she managed the Adult Basic Education Program for Literacy Source before making the decision ten years ago to teach incarcerated students at King County Correctional Facility. To this day her work is her passion and she continues to be inspired by her students.

Cat Howell
Citizenship Instructional Advisor
Cat is the Instructional Advisor responsible for  the citizenship program, which helps students apply and prepare to pass the US citizenship exam. She has been teaching ESOL in the United States and abroad for over fifteen years and lives in Wallingford with her family.

Lindsey Kafer
ABE / Technology Instructional Advisor
Lindsey helps coordinate Adult Basic Education programs and advise students and volunteers at Literacy Source. She has her MA in Adult Education and Training from Seattle University and enjoys working with adult learners as they pursue their goals. Lindsey believes that learning is transformational - shaping not only what someone knows, but also who they are and will become.

Kyna Moser
Deputy Director / Instructional Advisor
As an Instructional Advisor, Kyna supports adult learners in achieving their literacy and life skills goals. She particularly enjoys working alongside so many talented and energetic volunteers. She earned her Bachelor's degree in Secondary Education & English from the Unversity of Nevada, Reno. As Deputy Director, she provides leadership and oversight in the area of student assessment and program quality.



EXTERNAL DIPLOMA PROGRAM 

Justin Butler
EDP Advisor and Assessor 
Justin works primarily in the evenings as an Advisor/Assessor in the External Diploma Program. Justin counsels participants and diagnoses skill deficiencies, recommends learning remediation activities, and assesses competencies. Justin discovered Literacy Source in 1999 through one of its many volunteer opportunities, and has been an employee since 2001.

Maude Houston
EDP Advisor and Assessor 
Maude is an Adviser/Assessor for the External Diploma Program at Literacy Source. She counsels program candidates, identifies skill deficiencies, and recommends learning remediation activities, and assesses competencies. Maude has her Master's degree in Library Science and a BA in English. She has worked in the field of Adult Education since 2005. She has also worked as a Public Reference Librarian and reading tutor.



LITERACY*AMERICORPS

Ash Nair
Literacy* Americorps Volunteer
English Literacy & Civics Program Assistant
Ash graduated from University of Washington with a degree in Biology. As an undergraduate, she peer-facilitated several classes at UW and tutored at the King County Correctional Facility. She was inspired by her life as an immigrant and experience gained through her citizenship application procress to help with citizenship assistance at Literacy Source. She is happy to be part of this organization and serve people who wish to have a better life for themselves and their family.

Iain Brewer
Literacy* Americorps Volunteer
English Literacy & Basic Skills Program Assistant
Iain graduated from Portland State University in 2011 with a bachelor's degree in Community Health Education. While Iain was born and raised on military bases overseas, he still calls the Pacific North West his home. Iain enjoys biking, camping, hiking, and everything else the North West has to offer.



PART-TIME SUPPORT

Carolyn Howard
Finance and Fund Development Assistant 
Carolyn does bookkeeping for Literacy Source, and has been an employee since 2008. After the passing of Leslie Deming in June 2011, Carolyn has taken on the responsibilites of accountant as well as bookkeeping. She previously volunteered as the Thursday night Office Manager for more than five years. Carolyn has a business degree from the University of Montana in Missoula, as well as CPA and CMA certificates. She has over 30 years of experience as an accountant in the hospitality field.

Polly Freeman
Publications Coordinator 
Polly helps write and edit information about Literacy Source, including the annual report, brochures, letters, invitations and other publications. Polly also helps write and edit grant reports and grant applications. She has years of experience in public outreach and communication, especially on environmental issues. An avid reader and recovering English major, Polly is delighted to be working in support of literacy and learning.

Carrie Misener
Administrative Consultant 
Carrie has been working at Literacy Source in various capacities since 1999. Currently, she oversees a variety of special projects and organizational tasks in the few hours she has free each week from her day job as an elementary school teacher.

Leah Stahly
Executive Assistant 
As an Administrative Assistant, Leah assists staff members with data entry, administering and scoring tests, preparing materials for student and volunteers, and doing various office projects as needed. She particularly enjoys and appreciates the comfortable atmosphere at Literacy Source. She has a Bachelor's degree in Apparel Design from Seattle Pacific University as well as a passion for dance on a social and competitive level.



TECHNOLOGY AND INFORMATION DEVELOPMENT


Nick Jennings
Network Administrator & Technology Advisor
Nick is the systems administrator for Literacy Source. It is his job to make sure the blinking lights keep blinking green. He received his Computer Science degree from Washinton State University and has spent the last 10 years working in IT for various Seattle are non-profit organizations. His free time consists of traveling, SCUBA diving, rock climbing, and staring at lights that blink other colors than green.

Sam Russell
Information Development Manager
Sam is responsible for information development and management at Literacy Source. He enhances and maintains Literacy Source's systems for reporting student and volunteer data and for tracking donors. Sam is also responsile for providing performance date to various funders and grantors. Sam has worked with computers for over 25 years. He hails from the Midwest and East: Chicago; Madison, WI; and Washington, DC are all hometowns. In addition to working in technology, Sam has been a barista, cook, photographer, and stagehand, among other things.



WORK STUDY

Erik Wahlstrom
Work Study Administrative Assistant
Erik assists staff at Literacy Source by entering data, proctoring tests, and working on various projects around the office, as well as a teaching computer skills class. Erik has received his Associate of Arts from Pierce College and is currently studying psychology and music at Seattle Pacific University. Erik enjoys playing the classical guitar, soccer, and helping people learn.