About Us
News & Annual Reports
My Stern Center Story: Sean Plasse
Imagine you’re eight years old in a classroom of fourteen other kids, given an audiobook of Charlotte’s Web on CD and told there will be a final exam. You put your headphones on, and your copy is the one someone scratched with steel wool — mercilessly. How long could you sit with that, listening to nothing but noise, before the panic sets in?
Film Screening of Vermont Documentary Gone Guys
Join the Stern Center and Generator for a free screening of the Vermont documentary film Gone Guys, followed by light refreshments and a group discussion lead by youth and community educators Shaun Stephens, Stern Center Speech Language Pathologist, and Mason Merriam, Generator Director of Facilities & Operations.
Eric Ford Joins Stern Center as Director of Strategic Communications
[Williston, Vermont, February 10, 2026] This is a new role on the leadership team of the Vermont-based nonprofit Stern Center. As Director, Eric will focus on fostering awareness of the organization’s mission to help learners and empower teachers; inspiring donor support to ensure access to life-changing learning; and building connections that strengthen communities.
Stern Center Awarded Literacy Improvement Contract by Vermont Agency of Education
Williston, VT – The Stern Center for Language and Learning is pleased to announce that following a national RFP process, the Vermont Agency of Education has selected the Stern Center as a contractor for literacy improvement efforts, working with schools and communities through the Read Vermont initiative.
The Science Behind Dyslexia: NPR Highlights Breakthroughs in Understanding and Treatment
National Public Radio delves into the most common learning disability, dyslexia, with insights from Gabrielle Emanuel of the NPR Ed team. While recorded in 2016, the information is still relevant today.
Abby Roy, NCSP, C.A.G.S., Highlights Dyslexia Awareness and Literacy Bill Impact on Vermont Public
Abby Roy, NCSP, C.A.G.S., Highlights Dyslexia Awareness and Literacy Bill Impact on Vermont Public
Unlocking the Impact of Collaborative Learning Communities in Education
Whether through Professional Learning Communities, Communities of Practice, or Learning Collectives, working in a group is a powerful way to enhance learning. When we work and learn together, our collaboration pushes us beyond the limits of independent learning and results in dynamic, rewarding learning.
Why is Assessment Important?
Assessment expert Dr. Melissa Farrall explains how assessment helps us understand why children do what they do, and maps out how we can better meet their unique needs.
M&T Bank and Stern Center Launch Equity and Access Initiative
A generous grant from M&T Bank ensures more students will receive vital education services and support.
Learning How to Read is Harder Than You Think
Reading is a complex skill we learn through explicit instruction and deliberate practice. Here are four ways to support reading success!
Reaching More Learners, Teachers, and School Leaders
Thanks to the generous support of visionary donors, we’re welcoming learners and their families, teachers and school leaders to a new Stern Center website.
The Reading Crisis and What We Can Do to Fix It
Effective literacy instruction in schools is our most powerful tool to advance equity of educational outcomes. Together, we can ensure that every child can read, write, learn, and thrive.
Types of Testing for Learning Disabilities
Testing helps us understand how a child learns best, giving us a full profile of their strengths and needs.
How to Choose Books for Beginning Readers
Strategies from reading experts about choosing books for early reading include reviewing challenging words on a page, focusing on accuracy, and making it fun!
What is the Science of Reading?
The science of reading draws on decades of research in neuroscience, cognitive psychology, education, and linguistics that seeks to understand how children learn to read.
Learning Disabilities Awareness Month & Dyslexia Awareness Month
As some of you may know, every October people around the world celebrate two very important causes: Learning Disabilities Awareness Month and Dyslexia Awareness Month.
Activities, Games, and Lessons for Social Learning: A Practical Guide
A terrific resource guide full of games and activities that will help kids learn important social-emotional skills, written by the Stern Center’s Director of Social Learning and Communication, Julie Erdelyi, M.A.
Dr. Laurie Quinn Speaks with Ric Cengeri, Host of Vermont Viewpoint, on WDEV Radio
On May 11, Ric Cengeri, host of WDEV’s Vermont Viewpoint, interviewed Dr. Laurie Quinn, President of the Stern Center for Language and Learning. In this conversation, Laurie and Ric discuss the variety of services the Stern Center offers that positively impact students and educators.
Parent’s Guide to Tests and Assessments for Children Who Might Have a Learning Disability
When you have questions about assessment, finding the answers should be easy. “All About Tests & Assessments,” co-authored by the Stern Center’s Director of Evaluations, Melissa Farrall, is a comprehensive guide for parents, teachers, and therapists looking to understand how to use tests and assessments to identify students’ challenges and to guide them developing a customized learning plan.
Etymology and Why We Should Care
“Autism” has its root in the Greek word “autos,” which means “self.” It describes conditions in which a person is removed from social interaction. “De minimis” is a Latin expression meaning “about minimal things.” It describes the lowest applicable standards applied in legal distinctions. Put those together and you have the foundation for a unanimous recent Supreme Court ruling regarding a student with autism.
Dyslexia: Failure is Not an Option
I wish I would have known what was going on when my eldest daughter, Madeline, started learning to read. She hated it. She loved all of her other subjects but reading was painful. She used to hide under the table to avoid it. The most frustrating thing about this was that the school kept telling me that Madeline was fine.
