Susan Tannehill

Associate Director of Operations & Finance

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

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?

April 8, 2026 Heather Rodman, Literacy Trainer

A Literacy Gambit: Engaging Students Through Daily Word Exploration

This five-minute Word of the Day routine helps students build vocabulary, think critically about words, and develop confident, independent word-solving skills.

March 31, 2026 Wunneanatsu Lamb-Cason (Schaghticoke/HoChunk)

Reading Beyond November: Bringing Indigenous Voices Into Everyday Literacy Instruction

As educators, we have an opportunity to shift from occasional inclusion to sustained presence — integrating Indigenous perspectives into everyday literacy instruction in ways that are relevant, accurate, and ongoing.