Karen Williams

Karen Williams has served as the Executive Director of LearningQuest since 1996.  She has grown the organization from a budget of $65,000 and two part-time staff to $2.7 million with 70 staff.  Much of the growth has been due to partnerships with county departments to provide literacy services to a variety of populations including Welfare to Work, incarcerated adults, adults on probation and the county library providing literacy services, ESL and Family Literacy. School districts have also been a major partner for both ESL classes and High School Equivalency programs. The organization now serves over 1200 adults and 200 children. 

Kara Lewis

Kara Lewis is the Director of Literacy for LearningQuest Stanislaus Literacy Centers, overseeing the adult literacy and Kids Quest programs, along with supervising the partnership with the NAACP's children's literacy program.  A certified trainer, she has spent years improving literacy services across multiple counties.  She began her career in 1994 with Stanislaus County's StanRead Adult Literacy Program and joined LearningQuest in 1999.  She holds a B.A. In German with a minor in Physical Education and studied foreign language at the Goethe Institute in Murnau, Germany.   

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Daisy Mayorga

Daisy Mayorga is a passionate advocate for diversity and inclusion in technology. As the co-founder of yüda, she is dedicated to ensuring equal access to emerging technologies for underrepresented communities. With a strong background in computer science, data science, and project management, Daisy has led transformative initiatives that bridge the gap between technology and marginalized communities. A Women Techmakers Ambassador and Google Developer Group organizer, she has hosted and spoken at numerous global events, empowering communities with resources, mentorship, and education. She is a firm believer in breaking barriers and building an inclusive tech ecosystem where diverse voices are heard and celebrated. Through her leadership, she continues to drive impactful programs that create opportunities for the next generation of technologists and innovators. 

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Courtney Saint-Smith

Courtney Saint-Smith, a native of Modesto, California, is deeply committed to supporting individuals in overcoming life’s challenges. With a strong foundation in faith, a rich musical upbringing, and diverse socioeconomic experiences, she has cultivated a passion for guiding and empowering others. Her academic background spans Social and Behavioral Sciences, Human Services, and Psychosocial Rehabilitation. Initially aspiring to a career in mental health or guidance counseling, Courtney’s professional trajectory shifted in 2019 when she had the opportunity to instruct adults in obtaining their High School Equivalency (HSE) diploma. This experience sparked a new dedication to adult education. Currently serving as the Program Director of High School Equivalency (HSE), Courtney oversees instructors and student support staff, mentors students throughout their educational journey, and ensures the program remains a vital resource for those it serves 

Victoria Hernandez

Victoria Hernandez is the Program Director of ESL and Family Literacy at Learning Quest. She completed her Bachelor’s in English with a TESOL focus and a Master’s in Rhetoric. Victoria worked as an educator for over four years. Before transitioning to management, she developed LearningQuests’ original 12-week curriculum for the High School Equivalency (HSE) program. She is taking her knowledge of curriculum development to ESL, working on Kid’s Club assessments and curriculum, and overseeing ESL instruction. 

Juliana Sargis

Juliana Sargis is the ESL Lead Instructor for the ESL and Family Literacy program at LearningQuest. She earned her bachelor’s degree in English literature and TESOL and master’s degree in TESOL from California State University, Stanislaus. Juliana thrives on learning more about ESL teaching techniques and methods, and she likes to transfer her knowledge to instructors and tutors. As a result, she shared her knowledge on current and updated TESOL practices and trained library staff and educators in different workshops and conferences. Juliana believes that the foundation of language acquisition is to have fun, create a classroom community, and acquire language naturally with peers.