Cindy Downend

Director, Literacy Programs

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

I love to teach! It is so rewarding to see how our work with educators can be so empowering and transformative. When you think in new ways about literacy teaching and learning, you change your practice to improve the school experiences of children.

What I believe in

The power of literacy to improve, enrich, and change people’s lives.

Previous work highlights

Many years as a classroom teacher, Reading Recovery teacher, and literacy coach in Michigan, Germany, Minnesota, and Florida.

Favorite book

All The Light We Cannot See, by Anthony Doerr

Fun fact

Many years ago I was smuggled across an international border to go snow-skiing!

Education

MA, Elementary Education, Western Michigan University
EdS, Educational Leadership, Nova Southeastern University

September 30, 2025 Linda Murphy, Associate Director of Literacy Programs

Igniting a Year of Learning: Building Momentum as a Literacy Coach

For literacy coaches, this is a powerful moment – the chance to move from introductions and early connections into purposeful collaboration that will carry the year forward.

August 26, 2025 Heather Rodman, Literacy Trainer

Spelling: Harnessing the Power of Word Knowledge

Becoming a strong speller requires much more than memorizing words. Good spelling is a result of good teaching.

August 1, 2025 Nikki Drury, Literacy Trainer

Reading to Learn While Learning to Read

Is it reading to learn or learning to read? In reality, these two processes develop together, not one after the other. As children are learning how print works, they are also learning from what they read. They are making sense of language.