In a publicity event at The Stayton at Museum Way on Sept. 19, Texas Wesleyan alumna Kary Johnson M.Ed. ’03, Ed.D. ’13 received special recognition for her commitment to child literacy from actor Henry Winkler, well-known for his role on Happy Days as “The Fonz,” and a donation to the nonprofit organization she founded, Literacy United.

During the appearance, Winkler discussed his career, love for writing children’s books and personal struggle with learning disabilities.

Alumna Kary Johnson (center) with her first Reading Connection student (left) and "Happy Days" star Henry Winkler (right).

The Stayton saw the event as an important opportunity to raise awareness about the learning challenges many children face and reached out to Johnson of Literacy United as a way to show support for the cause.‌

The Stayton community made a donation of books from Winkler’s children’s series to Literacy United, which exists to provide supplemental educational support services for children and families in the Fort Worth area. The focus is to assist those in need of therapeutic academic intervention, speech language, occupational therapy, counseling or neuropsychological assessment services.

About Winkler as an author

Winkler began writing a series of children’s novels more than a decade ago with co-author Lin Oliver. These have made The New York Times and The Los Angeles Times Best Sellers lists among others, and are inspired by Winkler’s struggles in school due to his learning challenges with unidentified dyslexia. The stories offer resilience and hope to any reader who has felt overwhelmed or experienced difficulty with learning and finding a sense of belonging. 

About Kary Johnson

Johnson is a bilingual reading specialist in private practice as the owner of The Reading Connection, a reading clinic in Fort Worth.

She serves as board president of related nonprofit 501c3 Literacy United, which she co-founded to serve struggling readers in the Tarrant County area who cannot afford the cost of private reading therapy.

In 2003, Johnson received her M.Ed. from Texas Wesleyan in reading and bilingual education. She earned her doctorate of education from Texas Wesleyan in curriculum and instruction in 2013.