The Beartastic Readers Leadership

Meagan Williams, a native of Schulter, Oklahoma, has always had a deep affection for children and a strong desire to assist them. Growing up, her father instilled in her a genuine love for kids, while her sister, who worked as a teacher, introduced Meagan to classrooms by involving her in summer preparations. Meagan discovered her natural ability to connect with young children and, in 2021, took on the role of a para, assisting a second-grade teacher. This experience led her to a summer school helper position, where she realized that some students were struggling significantly with reading. It was during this summer that she began contemplating ways to aid these struggling students, which marked the inception of the Beartastic Readers Club.

As Meagan spent her summer crocheting, she brought her craft to school to occupy her time between classes. Intriguingly, the students started expressing interest in having her create fun items for them, which sparked an idea in Meagan's mind. She pondered if other students might also desire homemade toys. Thus, she found a teddy bear pattern and started brainstorming ways to enhance the overall experience. Luckily, Meagan inherited her mother's vivid imagination, which propelled her to consider incorporating adoption papers and fashionable accessories, fostering a sense of ownership among the students.

Kevin Barrett is a highly accomplished Coach and Learning and Development Professional with over two decades of global experience in leadership development, strategic planning, sales performance enhancement and software training.  He has a proven track record in building core skills and behaviors to help employees increase their efficiency and effectiveness and drive a substantial positive impact to the company bottom line.

Kevin is the President of True North Professional Development.

Early on, Kevin recognized the crucial importance of early childhood education and literacy in crafting brighter futures for our children. While he had previously supported various childhood literacy organizations through fundraising efforts, witnessing the remarkable outcomes achieved by The Beartastic Readers spurred him to deepen his involvement. Inspired by both the organization's capacity to reach and positively impact numerous children and the unwavering dedication of its founder, Meagan Williams, Kevin became involved in the creation of The Beartastic Readers as a non-profit organization, to extend its reach far beyond its humble origins, with the goal of touching even more young lives with the gift of literacy.

Kniga (ka ni yah) Dunback, known for her dedication to education, embarked on her teaching journey later in life. Always drawn to teaching, she finally pursued her dream after her husband encouraged her to return to college at the age of forty-three. Graduating from NSU of Oklahoma in 2005, Kniga began her career as a 7th and 8th grade ELA teacher at Okmulgee Middle School, where Principal Mr. Whitfield took a chance on her. For sixteen years, she poured her heart into teaching before retiring.

However, retirement didn't quench Kniga's passion for education. When an opportunity arose to join Dewar Elementary School's teaching staff, she eagerly embraced it. Teaching 5th grade boys for her first year, followed by two years in 4th grade, Kniga found immense joy in her work despite the challenges. Sadly, her husband's declining health forced her into retirement once more.

Reflecting on her teaching career, Kniga treasures the connections she formed with her students and the fulfillment she found in the classroom. Even in retirement, she remains active, supporting initiatives like Meagan Williams' Beartastic Readers program. She admires the program's impact on students and feels honored to contribute to its success.