After years of hard work and dedication, Carla Arinder, the long-time face of the Wichita Adult Literacy Council (WALC), is preparing to retire at the end of April. Since 2019, she has served as executive director, bringing growth, innovation, and a heartfelt approach to adult education in Wichita Falls.
Arinder, who came to the position with nearly 30 years of teaching experience, has played a big role in shaping the council into what it is today.
A Time of Growth for WALC
Under Arinder’s leadership, the Wichita Adult Literacy Council has grown in events, student enrollment, and tutor involvement.
“We’ve grown the number of events and fundraisers, as well as our student base and our tutor base,” Arinder said. “And we’ve put in place specific ways in which we want to continue to support our students.”
Her teaching background certainly helped, but her warm personality and positive energy made just as big of a difference.
Loved by Her Team and Volunteers
Martha Ford, a long-time volunteer at WALC, shared how much Carla’s presence will be missed.
“She’s so personable and so kind,” Ford said. “She knows what she’s doing. She’s been a joy to work with.”
This kindness and leadership style helped WALC not only expand but also become more active in the community.
Making WALC a Community Name
To keep up with growing needs, Arinder worked closely with board members like Kristen Shiplet to raise funds through creative events like Falls Feud and Murder Mystery Night at Kemp.
“She’s reached across many different organizations to make WALC’s presence known in the community,” Shiplet said.
Thanks to Carla’s hard work, WALC became a well-known and respected name in Wichita Falls.
Always Innovating and Moving Forward
Carla herself credits her success to being open to new ideas.
“You know, let’s try this, let’s try that, and let’s not do that anymore,” she said. “You keep tweaking things. Because once you stop growing or changing, you stop moving forward.”
That attitude helped WALC continue to evolve to meet students’ needs and stay relevant.
What’s Next for Carla Arinder?
As she steps away from WALC, Carla is looking forward to her next big role — being a full-time grandma. She’ll be moving to Michigan to spend more time with her family and enjoy a slower pace of life.
But back at WALC, one thing is clear — Carla leaves behind big shoes to fill.
“Well, I’m hoping we can find somebody like Carla,” Ford said with a smile.