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Wendy Vaulton

Associate Director, Early Interventions

What I like most about my role within the Center is…

I have the opportunity to work alongside educators in a wide variety of roles and settings, each with their own strengths, challenges, and perspectives. No two days are alike, and I learn something new from the teachers and leaders I work with every day. 

What I believe in

I believe books are meant to be lived with, written in, dog-eared, revisited, and shared. The best learning, like the best reading, leaves its mark. 

Previous work highlights

Before joining the Center, I worked as a researcher and evaluator focused on programs and policies supporting families experiencing homelessness and poverty. That work taught me the importance of listening carefully, using evidence thoughtfully, and partnering with practitioners to improve outcomes. These principles continue to shape my work with educators today. 

Favorite book

My Dream of You, by Nuala O’Faolain 

Fun fact

I have a soft spot for collective nouns. Favorites include a parliament of owls, a charm of goldfinches, a business of ferrets, and a flamboyance of flamingos. 

Education

Ph.D. from Brandeis University’s Heller School for Social Policy and Management 

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Featured Blog Posts

October 28, 2026 Wendy Vaulton, Associate Director, Early Interventions

Five Ways to Lead From Where You Sit

Here are five practical ways you can lead from any role by building trust, modeling positive behaviors, solving problems, communicating clearly, and sharing your why.

October 9, 2026 Heather Rodman, Literacy Trainer

When Someone Sees You as a Writer

Discover how to put the writer, not the writing, at the center of writing conferences for students to see themselves as writers.

September 28, 2026 Cindy Downend, Director

What Coaches Need to Succeed: A Research-Informed Model for Supporting Coaches

Coaching can be one of the most rewarding roles in a school, but it can also be isolating. Coaches occupy a unique space: they are not administrators, but their role also differs significantly from that of classroom teachers and specialists. Here are 5 things coaches need to thrive.