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Headshot of Wendy Vaulton

Wendy Vaulton

Associate Director for Reading Recovery & Early Interventions

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

I love working with teachers and school leaders to help them find new ways to use all kinds of data to support improvement. A big part of my role is to help build capacity to measure and monitor change in ways that are meaningful and useful to the people doing the work. I get to learn about schools in their own context and then help them set goals and create systems to monitor their progress. As if that isn’t enough, I then get to step back and work with amazing colleagues to consider how the lessons learned in one context may support others. I have the greatest job at the Center.

What I believe in

I believe in writing in the margins, dog-earing the pages, and savoring every word.

Previous work highlights

Before joining the Center, my work primarily focused in the area of homelessness. I worked as an evaluator on several projects seeking to end chronic homelessness for adults and families. Through those projects, I was able to support stakeholders across diverse and complex systems of care including hospitals, housing, education, and employment as they tried to improve, adapt, and learn.

Favorite book

The Age of Innocence, by Edith Wharton

Fun fact

Bananas are berries but strawberries aren’t.

Education

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

illustration with clip art

Featured Blog Posts

March 6, 2026 Nikki Drury, Literacy Trainer

An Invitation to Rethink: What Research Says About Syllables 

As literacy educators, we must think carefully about cognitive load, instructional payoff, and how word-solving strategies impact readers’ fluency and comprehension. If a strategy requires a lot of mental effort but works inconsistently, it’s worth asking whether it truly supports readers.

February 20, 2026 Linda Murphy, Associate Director of Literacy Programs

Three Essential Practices for Effective Vocabulary Instruction

Vocabulary knowledge is a key element in comprehending text. Students need ongoing instruction and support in developing their vocabulary because it affects their ability to comprehend texts and communicate their ideas clearly. Here are three instructional practices for approaching vocabulary instruction that will support students in expanding their word knowledge.

January 13, 2026 Edmund Adjapong

Analyzing Hip-Hop as Text: Teaching Students to Read the World Through Culture

Hip-hop is powerful because it provides a voice and a platform to marginalized communities and critiques injustice. It continues to be a powerful means for young people to critique social injustice, demand change, and celebrate their identities—offering not just music, but a way to imagine and create a better world. At its core, hip-hop is a culture that critiques society.