Gaston Literacy Council Staff

Email Linda 

Linda McConnell, Executive Director, joined GLC in 2017, after a “long” career with the State of NC, including 23 years as Pre-K Director for Gaston County Schools. She is a graduate of NC State, and completed a graduate degree at Univ. of Tennessee – Knoxville.

Linda recognizes the importance of quality education and its role in personal success and the vitality of our community. She is proud to be a part of the legacy of GLC and celebrates the diversity of both students and staff at GLC.

In her “spare time,” rather an oxymoron when describing Linda, she keeps busy running and walking, hiking, kayaking, reading, baking (and eating!), NFL football, and enjoys traveling anywhere, especially the NC mountains! One of her proudest moments is completion of a full marathon in 2014!  She is “Mom” to Mollie and Patrick, and grandmother to Lucas, Liam, Maggie, and Ro. Linda attends First United Methodist Church.

Email Jean Ann 

Jean Ann Stuart, Assistant Director, comes to the Gaston Literacy Council with over 15 years of human service experience in the non-profit sector. She has a passion for empowering others to find joy in the life they were given. She is excited to spread joy through education and the power of reading at the Gaston Literacy Council.

Jean Ann has a BA in Psychology from Belmont Abbey College and a long history of advocating for those who cannot advocate for themselves.

Jean Ann enjoys walking, being outside, and spending time with family.

Email Donna 

Donna Watson, Lead ESL Instructor, joined GLC in 2012 and has over thirteen (13) years experience in adult education.

Donna graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts from UNC Charlotte. She is a former employee of Gaston County Schools where she held several positions. As a Parent Specialist, Donna earned national recognition for planning successful parent involvement events in the community. During this time, she also volunteered with GLC as a reading tutor.

Prior to joining GLC, Donna taught reading in the Adult Basic Education department of Gaston College. Her passion is helping lower leveled students achieve level gains. She loves to see their enjoyment and excitement of learning English, and see their fears of a new language transform into a new self-confidence!

Donna enjoys dancing, history, documentaries, traveling and serving in her church’s missionary department.

Email Elizabeth

Elizabeth is an Adult Education Instructor at Gaston Literacy Council. She began her involvement with GLC while working as a volunteer in 2017, and quickly became a favorite of the students.

Elizabeth holds a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish and a Master of Teaching in Foreign Language Education from the University of Virginia. While pursuing her degrees, she studied abroad in Valencia, Spain. After teaching Spanish for the Clover School District, Elizabeth completed an endorsement to her Master’s Degree in English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) through the College of Charleston.

When she is not working to serve her community as a sustainer of the Junior League of Gaston County or as a member of the Next Gen giving circle of Gaston Community Foundation, she enjoys essential oils, reading, tennis, and spending time with her husband and two boys in Gastonia.

Email Delta 

Delta Sanders, our Funds Development Coordinator, has a passion for purpose! A veteran non-profit professional, she has worked for several local and nationally-affiliated organizations. She has been equally active as a volunteer who shares her time and skills in numerous capacities. She is co-founder and current Board Chair of Elements of Empowerment, Inc.

Her dedicated community service earned her the 2014 Belmont Citizen of the Year Award and the 2018 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Humanitarian Award. She joined Gaston Literacy Council, Inc. in 2017. Delta is delighted to use her non-profit experience and energy at Gaston Literacy Council, Inc.

Her pastimes are movies, reading and learning new things. Delta has the love and support of husband Gene and daughters, Diamond and Tuscany.

Email Annie 

Annie Anthony, Co-Coordinator of Reading Soul Mates,  first started working with Gaston Literacy Council as a Reading Soul Mates volunteer in 2017. She loved the experience, the students, as well as the philosophy and happily joined the GLC staff in 2019.

Annie enjoys recruiting and training volunteers to provide the encouragement and motivation needed to enhance the literacy skills and self-esteem of second grade students here in Gaston County.

Annie graduated with a BA in Psychology from Belmont Abbey College. She is a mother to three wonderful children and has spent over twenty years volunteering in various capacities throughout the community. When not promoting children’s literacy or spending time with family, Annie can be found reading, walking, or cooking.

Email Merry 

GLC was fortunate to “find” Merry Deely in 2018 and as Co-Coordinator of the Reading Soul Mates Program, she is an integral part of Gaston Literacy Council.

Merry is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a degree in Early Childhood Education. She also holds a Masters Degree in Education from UNC Charlotte. She has been involved in some form of Education for over 25 years. She was a classroom teacher with Gaston County Schools for 11 years, with her most recent year at Belmont Central Elementary teaching 4th grade.

Merry took several years off to raise her children and during that time she worked as a part time substitute teacher and ran a Horseback Riding Lesson and Camp program on her family farm, combining her two loves of children and horses!!

Merry enjoys yoga, hiking, riding horses with her identical twin sister and spending time with dear friends and her very loving family!