Staff
Executive Director: Sarah Stiefel, Ed.S.
Sarah has been involved in literacy education since 1998, first as an academic librarian at UCA, then as a public school teacher and dyslexia interventionist. She has taught Reading and English Language Arts at many grade levels, most recently in junior high. Her love of education has led her to complete an M.S in Information Science, an M.Ed. in Reading, an Ed.S. in Leadership. She is presently working toward an E.D.D. in Educational Leadership. Sarah jokes that education is both her job and her hobby. When not at the Literacy Council, Sarah enjoys reading, knitting, riding motorcycles & horses, and time with her husband and children on their homestead/hobby farm.
Assistant Director: Kim Careau, M.A.
Kim graduated with a B.A. in psychology from Harding University and an M.A. in English from the University of Memphis. Although Kim’s first formal experience educating others was peer tutoring students with disabilities and ESL students at the HU Learning Center, the foundation for her love of learning and teaching was established early on by her parents who were both educators. Kim continued to teach literature and composition as a graduate assistant in Memphis and then as an adjunct at Drury University. Over time, she shifted her from the traditional students to non-traditional students -- those with careers, children, commitments who still found time and energy to prioritize their education. Kim enjoys painting, playing with her dog, and working on her truck. She has plans to learn how to square dance and to work with concrete in art. She has two sons and one granddaughter.
Program Coordinator: Patti Stevens, Ed.S.
With nearly three decades of experience in education, Patti has devoted her career to cultivating student success and supporting educators. With a Masters degree in Reading and an Educational Specialist degree in Educational Leadership, she has served in various roles, including high school English teacher, K-12 Literacy Specialist, Elementary Principal, Superintendent, and Adjunct Instructor. She has also served on school and university committees, offering insight and leadership to enhance educational initiatives.
Because of her strong belief that education is the key to success and a driving force behind individual and community growth, she continues to provide support through consulting and customized professional development. Patti provides guidance and insight through the lens of a seasoned educator and as a MAX Teaching Strategies trainer and a nationally certified Classroom Management trainer for the Time To Teach Program at the Center for Teacher Effectiveness.
In her spare time, Patti enjoys reading, writing, and editing for authors across the United States. She has three children (a son and twin daughters) and two grandchildren.