Donors, sponsors, and partners make it possible for Ozarks Literacy Council to encourage literacy throughout the Ozarks. Your support helps us provide free tutoring as well as books to adults and children in our community. Making a difference starts with one willing individual. Your support empowers someone’s future through literacy.
Amy Jardell earned a master of nonprofit and civic leadership degree from Drury University. She has been with OLC since Nov 2018. Amy is leading our organization with enthusiasm and advocates for literacy by her example. She is a preschool reader and reading tutor for OLC. Amy is responsible for fundraising, donor relations, community partnerships and the day-to-day management of OLC.
Janelle Andrus has a Bachelor’s in Elementary Education and a Master’s and Specialist Degree in Educational Administration from MSU. Janelle has a Doctorate from the University of Missouri in Program Analysis and Leadership. She was an elementary teacher and elementary principal for 28 years. Janelle is responsible for managing OLC curriculum, tutors, and students.
Ozarks Literacy Council promotes literacy in Southwest Missouri by offering free one-on-one tutoring and a variety of literacy programs.
On November 7, 1968, Dr. Frank Laubach spoke at University Heights Baptist Church in Springfield. The Springfield Area Council of Churches sponsored the meeting. As a result, the Springfield Area Literacy Council was formed. The council’s charter was adopted on November 14, 1968.
In February of 1969, the first tutor training was held at Evangel College with Onita Beucher of Kansas City as the tutor trainer. Thirty tutors were certified and the Laubach “Each One Teach One” training began.
Until United Way funding was acquired in 1979, the agency operated from private homes and churches. United Way funding allowed for a small office downtown and a part-time secretary.
In 1992, we changed our name to the Ozarks Literacy Council, and expanded services to include learners in 11 surrounding counties in Southwest Missouri. We trained 54 new tutors that year. The final total of volunteer tutors was 184, they helped us serve 192 adult learners.
OLC partners with The Springfield Community Center to kick-off Books Come Alive. This program featured community professionals as volunteer readers. They would visit classrooms to read and share information about their profession.
In 2013 Ozarks Literacy Council and the Springfield-Greene County Library District entered into a lease agreement for office space at the Midtown-Carnegie Branch Library at 397 E Central St. This location has been ideal for OLC. The library to refers patrons to our services, provides space for regular training sessions, and reserves rooms for tutoring sessions.
2018 marked the 50th year of the Ozarks Literacy Council. OLC continues to serve the literacy needs of the community by offering three programs. Our main program of one on one literacy tutoring educated 193 students in 2018. We have generous volunteers that read to 32 Springfield preschool classrooms and sent a new book home with each child. Our social advocacy keeps us engaged in the community through public events such as Neighborhood Night Out, Juneteenth, Backpack programs and more
President, Dana Mallory, Jack Henry and Associates
Vice President, Emily Reese, BKD
Treasurer, Abigail James-O’Quinn, James Financial Partners
Secretary, Jennifer Johnmeyer, Andy’s Frozen Custard, Freelance by Jen
Immediate Past President, Casey Daughtery, Republic Missouri Schools
Rachel Campbell, Jordan Valley Health Center
Jami Dressler, Arvest Bank
Tony Gunn Jr., St. Louis Mental Health Board
Tracy Haertling, Mercy
Reggie Harris, Jack Henry & Associates & Harris Multifaceted
Sarah Kerner, City of Springfield
Audra Lehman, Code Ninjas
Eva Pelkey, Springfield Greene County Library
Zach Troutman, Arc of the Ozarks