Phone: 512.475.9782
Email: ggarcia@austin.utexas.edu
Dana Center Role
Gabriela serves as the AmeriCorps operations manager for Literacy First, a program dedicated to providing low-income schools with highly trained tutors to ensure that children advance to grade level in reading before third grade. She is responsible for logistics, operations, and compliance for the AmeriCorps program, and offers support and training to program staff and the Literacy First AmeriCorps tutors. Gabriela oversees the annual recruitment of Literacy First tutors and all aspects of program management. She also coordinates the partnerships between Literacy First and the Austin community, summer school placements, the tutors’ civic reflection activities and tutor professional development. Gabriela co-leads the Literacy First Leadership Academy for selected second-year members.
Before Joining the Dana Center
Prior to her current position, Gabriela was a tutor in the Literacy First program before serving as a senior bilingual program coordinator for the program, working in the field. In her role, she supervised 13 cohorts of AmeriCorps tutors and developed trainings and curricula for the program. Gabriela is an alumna of the Hispanic Austin Leadership and Emerging Leaders in Public Service programs.
Education
M.Ed., Curriculum and Instruction: Reading, Concordia University (OR)
B.S.W., Social Work, University of Arkansas at Little Rock
B.A., Spanish, University of Arkansas at Little Rock
Presentations
“All Systems Go: Practical Management Tools from the Field.” National Conference on Volunteering and Service, Washington, DC (June 2013), Austin, TX (March 2014).
“Multi-Site AmeriCorps Program Management.” National Conference on Volunteering and Service (Chicago, IL, June 2012).