Graduate of the GCTA
ESL and Adult Basic Education Programs
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“Our teachers at Goodwill help us so much. People immigrating to the U.S. currently face a lot of problems, but Goodwill is such a good opportunity for us and we truly appreciate it.”
— Katie Leon Borrero, GCTA Class of 2025
Funded through a grant from the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation, the Goodwill Career & Technical Academy’s (GCTA) English as a Second Language (ESL) and Adult Basic Education programs help individuals build the skills that unlock work, learning, and everyday life.
The ESL course focuses on functional English language skills for the workplace and in life, such as reading, writing, and speaking.
Adult Basic Education is for students that struggle with their reading, writing, and basic math skills. These students are looking for an academic boost before entering a new career or taking an occupational training class. Students will learn reading strategies, basic grammar and spelling, and everyday math, as well as participate in conversations around professionalism.
What makes our approach powerful is the continuum: caring instructors, small-group
practice, flexible schedules, and one-on-one coaching that meets students where they are and moves with them as they grow. A student’s journey may start with ESL confidence “I can talk to my supervisor”, and/ or build through Adult Basic Education “I can pass placement tests and manage homework”, ultimately leading to industry training or a better job. Your donations make this progress possible. When you shop at or give to Goodwill Central Texas, you fund coaching, technology access, and classroom materials that keep adult learners moving forward. The result is measurable change, such as higher wages, a dependable workforce, and thriving communities.
Thank you for empowering learners who are working hard, showing up, and rewriting what’s possible—one class, one conversation, and one step at a time.
The GCTA held a graduation on Wednesday, September 17th to celebrate several students who have recently completed the ESL and Adult Basic Education programs. Please join us in extending a heartfelt “congratulations” to each graduate!
Katie Leon Borrero immigrated from Cuba to the United States this year. She told us, “I grew up in Bayamo City, which I believe is the most beautiful city in Cuba.” She added, “I think it is the most important city in Cuban history because, for example, the national hymn was written and sung for the first time in my city.”
Upon arriving in Austin, Texas, Katie found another city to love. Katie shares, “I really like Austin. It’s a beautiful city with wonderful and beautiful people.” Katie currently lives in Austin with her two children, a 23-year-old son and a 15-year-old daughter.
Arriving in the U.S., however, brought a language hurdle. “When I came to the U.S., I didn’t speak any English, so communication with other
people was very difficult for me. And I wanted to create a better opportunity for my professional growth.” It was at this point that Katie enrolled in the English as a Second Language (ESL) program at the Goodwill Career & Technical Academy.
Her progress so far has been astounding. In Katie’s words, “I’m learning so much. I only started learning English three months ago. On my first day of class, I could only say, ‘Hi, hello, good morning,’ and now I can speak [conversationally].”
According to Katie, what helped her most was grammar class and practicing conversation and vocabulary words. She says learning more about how words fit into sentences made a huge difference in her grasp of the
language. Another major help was Katie’s overall tenacity. About her own personal strength, Katie says “I believe in myself, every time. I have the ability to adapt to new circumstances and new people, and I have the bravery to step to the front in new situations. I think that’s the Cuban way.”
Katie also says her support system includes her faith and her family, to whom she is extremely close. When asked about whether she received support from her GCTA instructors, Katie became a bit emotional and shared, “Our teachers at Goodwill help us so much. People immigrating to the U.S. currently face a lot of problems, but Goodwill is such a good opportunity for us and we truly appreciate it.”
She is now enrolled in the GCTA’s Adult Basic Education program and focused on her next steps. What are those next steps? Katie says she’s thinking about pursuing an education in medical assisting or even nursing, because she wants to help other people.
Katie is also paying it forward: “I would invite anyone to come to this program. Many of my friends have already enrolled because I told them about it.”
Would you like to get involved with helping a student like Katie learn English? Conversation practice matters. If you’d like to volunteer to practice English with Englishlanguage learners at GCTA, we’d love to hear from you.
Contact Gillian Jeter gillian.jeter@gwctx.org
At the Goodwill Exploration Center, opportunity is truly a family affair. While parents attend the Goodwill Excel Center adult high school, take classes at the GCTA, or participate in Goodwill Central Texas services, their children can dive into safe, hands-on enrichment just steps away. That simple dualsupport model removes one of the biggest barriers to adult education and work: childcare. When affordable childcare isn’t available, Excel adult high school students, GCTA participants, and Goodwill clients are forced to pause or abandon education and training. This stalls family progress and community prosperity.
In Central Texas, annual childcare can exceed $13,300 — the highest in Texas—shutting families out of school and skills training. Subsidized spots are scarce (waitlists are in the thousands), and children without high-quality early learning enter kindergarten behind—widening the readiness gap and leading to costly interventions later.
This is where the Goodwill Exploration Center comes in. Thanks to the Exploration Center, parents can focus on coursework, practice new skills, and meet with coaches; while children explore literacy, art, STEM, and social-emotional learning in a nurturing environment.
This year, the Exploration Center achieved a milestone that underscores that quality: national Accreditation+ from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)—the gold standard in early childhood education. The recognition reflects more than two years of preparation and a deep commitment to excellence by Sharon Evans, Senior Director of Early Childhood and Family Services, and the entire team. Accreditation places our program among the best in the country and affirms what families experience every day: that this center prioritizes safety, learning, and wholefamily success.
Looking ahead, the Exploration Center is pursuing funding for an expansion planned for 2026, so we can serve even more Central Texas families. Your support will help power this vision of enabling parents to go to class, keeping children engaged, and ensuring pathways to better jobs are within reach.
• Parents: Complete diplomas or certifications and move into family-sustaining jobs.
• Children: Enter kindergarten ready, with a head start on language, literacy, and selfregulation skills.
• The Central Texas Community: Thrives due to higher workforce participation, lower social costs, and stronger schools and neighborhoods.
From the classroom to the community, this is your ripple effect. Parents finish high school diplomas (Excel), earn industry credentials (GCTA), or complete pathways to better jobs. Children enter kindergarten ready. Families stabilize. Your gift lifts the whole household and strengthens Central Texas. Scale of change you create: Children >Parents >Families > Schools >Work >Central Texas economy. Your investment pays dividends for decades.
Thank you for supporting a model that strengthens families now and builds brighter futures for our community.
As a parent balancing both work and school, having dependable and high-quality childcare has been essential to my success.
All three of my children have either attended or are currently attending the Goodwill Exploration Center. The staff at the center have been exceptional, providing not only a safe and nurturing space, but also creating an environment where my children could grow, learn, and thrive.
Because of the reliable support from the Goodwill Exploration Center, I was able to attend school, stay focused on my studies, and maintain steady employment. [The Exploration Center has represented] more than just childcare, it has been a source of stability, growth, and encouragement during an important chapter in our lives.
Sincerely,
Laura Valdez Trejo
For more than three decades, GSG Talent Solutions has been dedicated to advancing careers, empowering families, and strengthening communities across Central Texas.
This year, we celebrated that milestone with our partners and neighbors at a Round Rock Express game to honor community, teamwork, and shared success. Our Senior Vice President of Social Enterprises, Keith Sommer, threw out the game’s first pitch. We were also honored to have our CEO, Rob Neville, and his fiancée Melinda join in the festivities, alongside countless community partners, supporters, and friends.
The evening highlighted more than just baseball. Our team members engaged with attendees to share the extended mission services of Goodwill Central Texas, powered by GSG Talent Solutions. Community members met BETTY, our mobile mission unit, which helps bring digital access and Workforce Advancement services directly to those who need them most. Together, we celebrated the thousands of individuals whose journeys have been transformed by access to meaningful employment.
As we reflect on 30 years of placing talent and fueling opportunity, we extend our deepest gratitude to the community for allowing us to serve. We look forward to building pathways to equitable, sustainable careers for generations to come.
Goodwill Central Texas rallied together for neighbors impacted by the Central Texas floods, hosting a community blood drive to support local hospitals and families. Thank you to every donor, partner, and team member who rolled up a sleeve—your generosity helps save lives and speeds recovery for our community. We’re also proud to share that thanks to the generous support of our own Team Members, community donors, and several Goodwills around the country, we raised $47,923 to directly support local disaster relief organizations and a Team Member who experienced significant loss. Goodwill Central Texas also contributed $5,000 toward these relief efforts.
We’re excited to share a growth milestone: the grand opening of our new Taylor store on September 26th. The Taylor location will expand access to affordable goods and create local jobs, while every purchase helps fund mission services like career training, ESL and Adult Basic Education classes, and digital access across Central Texas. Your support through donating, shopping, and spreading the word powers all of this impact. If you’d like to get involved, consider scheduling a donation dropoff or inviting a friend to join you for some thrift shopping at the Taylor store. Together, we’re building opportunity, one act of goodwill at a time.
‘Tis the season of giving! Now is the time when families gather, laughter is shared, and memories are made. Join in the spirit of the season, and donate your gently used items to Goodwill. Thanks to you, neighbors can earn a high school diploma, train for new careers, and gain skills that open doors for them and their families.