About Us

Stern Center Board of Directors

Meet Our Board Members

The Stern Center is governed by a Board of Directors whose members serve as vital links to the community and help chart a course for continued organizational growth and sustainability. With their skills, knowledge, and vision, members support the goal of educational equity through the Stern Center’s high-quality direct services for all ages and abilities.

Current Board Members

Adam Wing, Chair

Carrie Alexander

Ryan Botjer

Michael Healy

Sarah Healy

Carol Ode

April O’Dell

Elaine Pinckney

Lori Smith

Maribeth Spellman

Sharon W. Wood

Matthew Zahn, Ph.D.

Laurie Quinn, Ph.D.

President

Honorary Board Members

Peter Stern, M.D.

Honorary Chair

Blanche Podhajski, Ph.D.

President Emerita

Eugene Cenci

Governor James H. Douglas

Lewis R. First, M.D.

John M. Hoehl

Governor Madeleine Kunin

Senator Patrick Leahy

G. Reid Lyon, Ph.D.

Bud Meyers, Ph.D.

Jon Pizzagalli

Eugene E. Richards III

Deborah Schapiro

David Stifler, M.D.

Barry Stone

Brian Till, M.D.

What Our Board Members Have to Say

I’ve been in education for nearly 50 years, and the data on how children read has not changed. Too many kids are still struggling to read. I joined the Board because of the Stern Center’s vision of transformation, creating partnerships with schools to help all children learn how to read. It’s a mission that focuses on doing what’s right for kids.

Elaine Pinckney, Board Member and Retired Superintendent of the Champlain Valley School District

The Stern Center is a treasure. The team’s depth of expertise, the commitment to putting research into practical application, and the long-standing dedication to results for generations of learners all matter now more than ever to our future.

Bud Meyers, Ph.D., Board Member and Professor Emeritus, University of Vermont

Educational equity and access are extremely important to me. We’re so lucky to have a place like the Stern Center looking out for every student. Learning is the key to success for future generations. Serving on the Board is an opportunity to give back to the state of Vermont. Every learner deserves to feel valued, confident, and successful in the classroom and beyond.

Carrie Alexander, Board Member and Managing Associate, Isaacson, Miller

Teacher and kindergarten students sitting on the floor in a classroom, raising their hands

Our Reach by the Numbers

1,800+

Teachers Served This Year

When a teacher takes one of our courses, the positive impact ripples beyond one life, spreading through an entire classroom, school, and community.

Three people, one in a wheelchair, with their arms raised and mountains in the distance

Our Reach by the Numbers

10,901+

Student Services Hours This Year

We offer one-on-one teaching that transforms lives, lifts up voices, and inspires learners to bring forth their unique gifts to a world that awaits them.

Stern Center innovations photo of girl raising her hand eagerly

Our Reach by the Numbers

415+

Schools Served This Year

We celebrate the dedication of our school partners and share their commitment to a brighter future for all learners.

Teacher leading a classroom with a small group of students

Our Reach by the Numbers

States and Counting

We’re a national leader in language and literacy. Our impact currently extends across 39 states and several countries through the thousands of educators we reach and students we serve.