
Literacy Action Staff

Dana Venhaus
Executive Director

Laura Latch
Program Director - Conway
Laura was born and raised in central Arkansas, and now lives in Conway. She began working as a volunteer ESL tutor with Literacy Action in 2018 when she led our St. Joe’s ESL class, and tutored individual students. She has a degree from the University of Central Arkansas in English & TESOL (teaching English to speakers of other languages).
Laura divides her time as Program Director between the Little Rock and Conway offices, and can assist students and tutors in both areas. She is very passionate about helping students with their literacy needs.
In her free time, Laura loves spending time with her husband Adam, their daughter Allie, and the family dog, Pinky.

Sarah Standridge
Program Director - Little Rock
Sarah grew up in northwest Arkansas and received a B.A. degree in English from the University of Arkansas. After working in the corporate world, she began tutoring at the Ozark Literacy Council in Fayetteville and went on to work there as an ESL teacher. Following her family’s move to Little Rock, Sarah spent years working and volunteering with children. She received her M.A. degree in teaching from the University of Central Arkansas, with special training in ESL, in 2013. Before joining Literacy Action, Sarah worked as an instructor in the Intensive English Language Program at UA Little Rock. In her free time, Sarah loves to read, hike, plant things, and spend time birdwatching and cloudwatching on her deck.

Roger Hawkins
AmeriCorps Member - Arkansas Reads Tutor
Roger is excited to be part of Americorps with LACA in Little Rock. He is also presently a coach and educator for retirement-aged adults. He has a Masters in Education from Lesley University in Cambridge, MA. Roger says that his commitment to empower children and adults to be the best persons that they already are has manifested in lots of different ways over the years. He has taught children in the classroom and tutored English for many years. He has coached marginalized adults to access community workforce and wellness services. A professional stage actor and director, he also ran school drama program. Eight years ago, Roger and his wife moved to Little Rock from Delaware. He is very happy to be here where he gardens and gets to just hang out with Hope, his wife, and love life.
Board of Directors 2021-2022
Daveante Jones | President
David Monteith | Vice President
Rose Merry Kirkpatrick | Secretary
Bill Foster | Treasurer
Louene Lipsmeyer
Caley Hawkins
Tish DePriest
April Phillips-Perry
Sherry Owen
Elisabeth Owen
Mary Waldo – Past President