Gaston Literacy Council Staff

Deana Murphy, Executive Director, joined GLC in July 2024 after a career in education.  She previously worked as a teacher, a college lecturer at UNC Charlotte, and the Director of Pre-Kindergarten Services with Gaston County Schools. She is a graduate of UNC Chapel Hill and UNC Charlotte.   

With her background in education, she has seen first-hand the critical role of literacy for both personal success and as a vital member of society.  She is excited about the work of the Literacy Council and looks forward to strengthening and expanding its outreach. 

Deana enjoys reading, cooking, traveling, and is learning to embroider.  She loves sports, especially the North Carolina Tar Heels and the Green Bay Packers.  She is Board Chairperson for the Partnership for Children of Lincoln and Gaston Counties, and a member of the Workforce Development Committee, the Rotary Garden, and the Bobbie H. Rowland Foundation. She and her husband, Marty, are parents of 5 adult children. 

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.

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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.

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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.

Delta loves spending time with her daughters, Diamond and Tuscany, and her GrandSonShines, T.J. and Treyton.  Her other pastimes are music, movies, reading, and learning new things.

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!

Mary joins our team after retiring from Corporate America in which she was a Human Resource leader for 38 years.  She holds a BS and Masters in Education. Last year upon retirement, she volunteered to support our Reading Soul Mates program, and this year is excited to join our team to help to coordinate and support volunteers of the program.

Mary has 3 grown children and 2 beautiful granddaughters who live locally.  They are her sun, moon and stars.