Our Story
Did you know that you can impact the greater Austin area community by the simple act of volunteering to read with children for 30 minutes a week?
1 Volunteer + 2 Children + 30 Minutes
= Changing the World!
Our History
In 2009, a group of 10 pastors met with superintendents from 7 Central Texas school districts to discuss the biggest challenges facing their schools. With the guidance of Susan Dawson, a pioneer in solving educational issues at E3 Alliance - Education Equals Economics, the pastors decided to adopt 3rd grade literacy as their focus. They envisioned the churches of Greater Austin partnering with elementary schools to provide volunteer literacy partners, ensuring every student reads at grade level. This group of pastors later adopted the name, Christ Together Greater Austin.
That same year the foundation of this mission and program initiative was laid. During the 2010-11 school year, the first pilot program was launched at Naumann Elementary School in Leander ISD. Over the next 4 years, numerous churches and volunteers joined the initiative. In 2015, Education Connection became an initiative of Christ Together Greater Austin, and Amy Hagen was hired as the first Executive Director. Working alongside Pete Inman, who was then the Executive Director of Christ Together Greater Austin, Amy took steps to expand and grow the program, ensuring that more students could benefit from Education Connection's literacy initiative.
Today, more than 1,280 volunteers are reading with over 3,000 students across 16 school districts in Central Texas. Each week, volunteers spend 30 minutes with elementary students, reading one-on-one for 15 minutes per child. As the program continues to grow and more students need literacy support, there’s an opportunity for YOU to make a meaningful impact on their literacy journey and future.
With over 250 elementary schools located in the Greater Austin area, the need to reach every student is tremendous. As a faith-based community, we have an opportunity to partner a church and/or faith-based business with each school, reading to elementary students one-on-one, while supporting educators as they help them to learn and grow.
We partner with churches, faith-based businesses, and public schools in the Greater Austin area seeking volunteers to help impact the lives of elementary students.
Our Core Values
Humility
Not bringing in our own agenda.
We strive to be a support to the schools, classrooms, and children.
Consistency
Making a volunteer commitment for a school year of service. Truly using one's servant heart to honor constant reading with children.
Simplicity
The idea that Education Connection needs to be something that imposes little on the schools/teachers and simple enough that a volunteer without "teacher training" can do and will make a difference to the child.