Help the Heckers Build Literacy in the Lowcountry

Did you know that “a mother’s reading skill is the greatest determinant of her children’s future academic success, outweighing other factors, such as neighborhood and family income” (NICHD, 2010, para. 2)?

As an educator and literacy outreach specialist, I am deeply familiar with the science of reading. As a mom, I am also familiar with the daily challenges and constant self-questioning regarding my child’s earliest language and literacy experiences. Historically and today, literacy is a critical skill for liberation and equity. Literacy underpins equitable access to opportunities and informed decision-making.

My name is Austen Hecker, and I am the coordinator for the America Reads tutoring program at the University of Virginia. I also serve as an outreach specialist for the Virginia Literacy Partnerships (VLP) team. In 2023, I earned my Ed.D. in Curriculum and Instruction with a concentration in Reading Education from the University of Virginia. Prior to working in higher education, I spent nearly ten years working in schools. I taught English for Speakers of Other Languages in K-8, fifth grade, preschool, and a reading intervention program. My favorite role, and by far the most demanding, is being a toddler mom to our adopted daughter, Esperanza (Espy) Grace. She is my greatest inspiration and my "why".

My husband and I moved to the South Carolina Lowcountry in 2021, and we have experience working in the local schools. Since we met in 2013, we have discussed the possibility of starting something of our own, as a means of supporting education within our local community. When the caboose in Port Royal became available for rent, our dream took shape, and Lowcountry Literacy Connection came alive. We hope that you will consider joining us in this journey to empower local students and their families with a love for literacy and language.

Our hope is to provide literacy tutoring, creative writing seminars, and mommy and me classes to support young readers and writers. Through intervention, support, and creative opportunities, we hope to engage students and their families in setting a path for success.

There are many costs involved in starting up this business, including rent, insurance, materials, and curricular resources. I will also likely shift to part-time work with UVA next year, which will mean a significant change to our income and budget. These are risks that we have prayerfully decided to take as we begin this journey. We have signed the lease for the caboose in Port Royal (beginning Jan. 2025), and we have filed the paperwork to set up our LLC.

Would you consider taking this bold step with us?

We know that there are so many needs at this time, and you may not feel called to financially give. We hope that you will consider other ways of supporting us by spreading the word, sharing our story, advocating for equitable literacy instruction, and covering us in prayers as we start a new chapter.

Thank you for your consideration, prayers, and support.