Susan Tannehill

Associate Director, Finance and Operations

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

Supporting the mission of increasing literacy skills for children.

What I believe in

I am passionate about social justice and health equity and am an ally for the LGBTQ+ community and for those oppressed due to discrimination.

Previous work highlights

I spent nearly 15 years working for an AIDS service organization and over a decade at Harvard, most notably with the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative.

Favorite book

The Second Sex by Simone de Beauvoir.

Fun fact

I am an artist and an ardent poodle lover!

Education

BLA from Harvard

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.