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Retired educator makes $1 million gift to Reading Recovery® program

An Ohio educator and philanthropist who has devoted her career to reading and literacy enhancement efforts has given a $1 million gift to support Texas Woman’s Reading Recovery program.

Dr. Billie J. Askew, a TWU Distinguished Alumna, Cornaro Professor Emerita of Reading, and founder of the Reading Recovery program at TWU in 1989, is internationally recognized for her work in early literacy and the prevention of literacy difficulties.

The Dr. Billie J. Askew Endowment was created in honor of Askew by her collegaues, friends and family to support advancement in literacy in the TWU Reading Recovery program.

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Under her leadership, TWU built school-university partnerships with more than 50 school districts in a dozen states. Askew is past president of the Reading Recovery Council of North America and the North American Reading Recovery Trainers Group. She also represented the United States on the Board of the International Reading Recovery Trainers Organization.

The annual Billie J. Askew Reading Recovery and K-6 Literacy Institute was named in her honor upon her retirement from TWU. Askew has been an influential leader and invaluable contributor to the national and international Reading Recovery enterprise.


For registration and more information about any of the events listed below, please go here

Billie J. Askew Reading Recovery and K-6 Literacy Institute

Register for Askew Reading Revoery Institute

2021 Askew Literacy Institute - November 15-16, 2021

Virtual Institute - LIVE and On-Demand Sessions - REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!

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Since 1989, TWU’s Reading Department has hosted the Billie J. Askew Institute designed for:

  • Grade K-6 classroom teachers
  • Reading Specialists
  • Literacy Coaches
  • Curriculum Specialists
  • Reading Recovery or Descubriendo la Lectura teachers and teacher leaders
  • Bilingual Educators
  • Parents
  • Title 1 Teachers and Coordinators
  • School Administrators, Principals and Librarians
  • Literacy Advocates

Page last updated 4:36 PM, February 15, 2023