About Each One Teach One
Since our founding in 2004, we’ve dedicated ourselves to empowering adults in Bexar County with the skills they need to thrive. With a mission to improve literacy and economic outcomes, we provide free, personalized tutoring in reading, writing, math, and GED® preparation, as well as English as a Second Language (ESL) instruction. By focusing on helping each learner gain in their academic skills, we’re building stronger families, communities, and futures.
Mission
At Each One Teach One, our mission is to enhance the lives of adults in Bexar County by improving their literacy skills and economic mobility. We offer personalized tutoring and support to empower individuals to reach their educational, professional, and personal goals.
Vision
We envision a future where every adult in our community has the skills to achieve their personal, educational, and professional goals. By addressing the barriers of illiteracy and promoting economic self-sufficiency, we aim to strengthen not only individuals but also the broader San Antonio community.
Our Story
The story of Each One Teach One began with a single interaction. Our founders met an elderly gentleman struggling to read and understand his tax forms. What started as a simple act of assistance quickly grew into a broader effort to help others in the community facing similar challenges.
As the demand for literacy support expanded, so did our mission. In 2004, EOTOSA officially became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Since then, we’ve served thousands of learners across San Antonio, offering customized tutoring programs that meet people where they are and empower them to reach their goals.
Our name, Each One Teach One, comes from the powerful tradition among African-American slaves, where those who learned to read would teach others. We continue this practice today, providing individualized support to help learners succeed one step at a time.
2001
The Antioch Community Transformation Network (ACTN) is founded by Antioch Missionary Baptist Church in San Antonio, TX.
2012
Partners with the City of San Antonio to provide GED services at seven city learning centers.
Receives the IBM Reading Companion Grant for innovative literacy technology.
2024
Receives Proclamation from the Commissioners Court of Bexar County for 20 years of contributions to adult education.
2003
The concept for Each One Teach One is born after ACTN staff recognize a need for adult literacy support.
2014
Purchases a former fire station and transforms it into San Antonio’s only community literacy center at 815 El Monte Boulevard.
2004
Each One Teach One launches as a program of ACTN, serving adult learners on the east side of San Antonio.
2015
Opens the literacy center to the community, serving as EOTOSA’s headquarters and a hub for education.
Became a member of the Adult Education and Literacy (AEL) Consortium who provide services to adults to help them attain GEDs and entry into workplace certification programs
2011
Reopens as an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit, expanding citywide.
Establishes services at Baptist Child and Family Services and Tripoint Center.
Hosts a financial literacy festival in partnership with Literacy Texas and McGraw Hill Foundation.
2020
Establishes an online learning program to continue one-to-one tutoring support during the pandemic.
The Challenge
1 in 4
San Antonio adults reads below a fifth-grade level
3.8
million adults in Texas lack a high school diploma
$225
billion lost annually in the U.S. due to low literacy
More Than 36 Million Adults in the United States Struggle with Basic Literacy Skills
In Texas, 3.8 million adults lack a high school diploma, and fewer than 10% of those in need are receiving services due to long waitlists. Locally, one in four San Antonio adults reads below a fifth-grade level, making them functionally illiterate. Unfortunately, the situation is not improving.
Adults with low literacy skills are more likely to experience poverty and higher unemployment rates. The National Council for Adult Learning reports that low literacy costs the U.S. economy over $225 billion annually in lost productivity, increased crime, and reduced tax revenue from unemployment.
Illiteracy doesn’t only affect individuals; it harms entire communities. According to the Literacy Foundation, communities with higher proportions of adults with low literacy skills experience slower long-term economic growth. Additionally, a lack of understanding of societal issues reduces community engagement, perpetuating cycles of economic struggle.
Children of parents with low literacy skills are also at a disadvantage. The National Bureau of Economic Research found that these children have a 72% chance of performing poorly in reading. They are more likely to struggle academically, face behavioral issues, have high absentee rates, repeat grades, or drop out. They often follow in their parents' footsteps, limiting their future opportunities.
At Each One Teach One, our mission is to improve the literacy levels of San Antonio’s adult population through individualized curricula and one-on-one tutoring. By equipping adults with the skills to read, write, use technology, and perform basic math, we give them the tools to improve their lives and break the generational cycle of illiteracy.