Heather Rodman

Literacy Trainer

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

Working with teachers. I love working, thinking, and reflecting with teachers about their thoughts, feelings, and beliefs about teaching and learning.

What I believe in

Teachers! Teachers are the instructional decision makers in classrooms. They are the ones who make a difference in the world. I believe that every teacher is an agent of change. There is nothing more powerful than a group of teachers thinking, talking, and reflecting about their instructional practices.

Previous work highlights

PreK – 4th grade teacher for 18 years
Literacy Coach
Leveled Literacy Intervention Instructor

Favorite book

My Name is Asher Lev, by Chaim Potok

Fun fact

I was a high school crew coach for 10 years.

Education

Central Connecticut State University

June 11, 2026 Heather Rodman, Literacy Trainer

Notebooks: Helping Students Notice, Wonder, and Think on Paper

One simple but powerful way teachers can nurture students’ curiosity is through notebooks. In classrooms, notebooks are not merely places to record learning; they create space for students to collect questions, sketches, observations, discoveries, and evolving ideas.

May 20, 2026 Cindy Downend, Director

Poolside PD

Summer is the perfect time to slow down, recharge, and dive into a great book that refreshes your literacy knowledge. In this blog post, Cindy Downend shares a thoughtful collection of professional texts for literacy educators — covering early literacy, writing instruction, purposeful reading, and evidence-based teaching practices — all perfect for your summer poolside PD.

April 29, 2026 Wendy Vaulton, Associate Director for Reading Recovery & Early Interventions

Every Student Matters

There is a growing body of research on what it means to matter, to feel seen, valued, and significant, and the findings are clear: when students experience a genuine sense of mattering, they are more willing to engage, more likely to take risks, and more able to persist through challenges. They become more secure learners. They perform better. How might this translate to literacy instruction?