Celebrating the Leadership and Lasting Impact of Ginny Ayers

In January 2026, Ginny Ayers stepped down as Executive Director of Literacy NRV after four remarkable years of leadership, innovation, and dedicated service to the organization and the community. Following her transition, Ginny continued serving Literacy NRV in a volunteer coordinator role until this week, when we were excited to welcome Janette Celestino to the team. 

While we will deeply miss Ginny’s day-to-day leadership, we are incredibly grateful this is not goodbye. Ginny will continue supporting Literacy NRV as both an office volunteer and member of our Board of Directors — a reflection of her enduring commitment to our mission and community.

Since joining Literacy NRV in January 2022, Ginny brought a positive, can-do spirit that transformed the organization in countless ways. She led with vision and professionalism, but also with humility, compassion, and teamwork. No matter how full her schedule was, Ginny was always the first to ask, “How can I help?” Her leadership style fostered collaboration, trust, and a culture where every staff member, volunteer, and learner felt valued.

Under Ginny’s leadership, Literacy NRV expanded its impact across the New River Valley while strengthening its role as a vital community resource. During her tenure, the organization developed and/or strengthened partnerships with numerous community organizations, including the Workforce Development Board, YMCA at Virginia Tech, Blacksburg Refugee Partnership, NRV Resiliency Network, Pulaski Community Youth Center, Montgomery Floyd Regional Library, and several faith-based and community organizations. These partnerships helped Literacy NRV broaden access to literacy services and deepen its impact for adult learners seeking greater independence through reading, writing, math, GED preparation, English language learning, workforce readiness, digital literacy, and family literacy programs.

During her time as Executive Director, Literacy NRV’s impact on lives, families and our community grew substantially as demonstrated by the increase in students served, from 243 students receiving literacy services in FY 21-22 to 441 students in FY 24-25. 

Ginny spearheaded a complete refresh of Literacy NRV’s branding and community presence. Through development of a new organization name and logo, updated marketing efforts, a redesigned website, new branded materials, and broader community outreach, she helped significantly increase awareness of Literacy NRV throughout the region. A featured BUZZ for Good episode she championed had a significant impact on the organization’s growing visibility and momentum.

Ginny was especially passionate about creating programs that responded directly to community needs. Under her leadership, Literacy NRV developed a new initiative, Be WELL NRV, a health literacy program helping English language learners better navigate the American healthcare system. She expanded on the Skill UP NRV initiative, which strengthens workforce preparedness and employability skills, by partnering with Workforce Development clients. She launched semester-based ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages classes) and collaborated with partners to offer classes at convenient, safe, community-based locations. 

Beyond programming, Ginny modernized and strengthened organizational operations in ways that will benefit Literacy NRV for years to come. She oversaw the implementation of the LACES student-volunteer database, expanded donor tracking and engagement through Little Green Light, streamlined internal systems, and improved data collection and program evaluation processes to support data-driven decision making.

One of Ginny’s greatest strengths was her belief in people. She invested deeply in volunteers, staff, interns, and learners, always encouraging others to grow into leadership roles. Her mentorship helped cultivate future leaders within the organization and community. She prioritized professional development opportunities for staff and volunteers, introduced new volunteer training focused on trauma-informed instruction and digital literacy, and guided interns and emerging leaders toward greater responsibility and confidence.

Ginny consistently celebrated the accomplishments of others and worked tirelessly to ensure their contributions were recognized. Under her leadership:

• Anne Larsen was recognized as a 2023 ProLiteracy Tutor of the Year,

• Tess Larsen received the NRV Leading Light 2025 recognition,

• and Anne Abbott earned Toyota Family Literacy Teacher of the Year Runner-Up 2025  honors.

Literacy NRV itself also received significant recognition during Ginny’s tenure. At the 2025 inaugural Founder’s Dinner hosted by Truliant Federal Credit Union and the Truliant Foundation, Literacy NRV was named the Southwest Virginia People Helping People Spotlight Award recipient and received a surprise $5,000 grant to support its work in the community.

Ginny’s leadership and impact also earned Literacy NRV the 2023 Small Non-Profit of the Year award as well as her nomination for the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce Distinguished Non-Profit Leader of the Year award in 2023 — a fitting recognition for someone who dedicated herself so fully to serving others.

Perhaps Ginny’s greatest legacy is the culture she fostered at Literacy NRV: one grounded in compassion, collaboration, continuous improvement, and unwavering belief in the power of literacy to transform lives. Through every challenge and opportunity, she ensured the organization remained innovative, welcoming, and deeply connected to the community it serves.

Ginny, thank you for your extraordinary leadership, your tireless dedication,your generosity with your time, talents and personal resources, and the countless ways you have strengthened Literacy NRV and the New River Valley community. Your impact will continue to be felt for many years to come, and we are so grateful that your journey with Literacy NRV is continuing in new ways.

We look forward to all that lies ahead in your next chapter — and we thank you for everything you have already given.

Ginny (right) worked with Literacy NRV student Laura to help her prepare for the US Citizenship exam, which she passed this week.  In addition to her Executive Director responsibilities, Ginny volunteered as a one-on-one tutor for several English language learners as well as serving as a volunteer in our Family READS (Reading and English to Achieve Dreams and Success) program.

Ginny (right) passed the Executive Director baton to Lauren Brooke Ellis in January 2026 and served as part-time Volunteer Coordinator until early June.