Our Team

PLL Staff

At Partnerships for Literacy and Learning, our team brings decades of experience working alongside educators and school leaders across Vermont. We are former teachers, literacy specialists, school leaders, and program developers who share a deep commitment to supporting strong literacy instruction for all students.

Together, we partner with schools and districts to provide high-quality professional learning, coaching, and resources that help educators build vibrant, equitable literacy communities.

Mary K. Grace

Executive Director

Founding leader supporting literacy and professional learning across Vermont.

Mary K. Grace is the founding Executive Director of Partnerships for Literacy and Learning. A longtime leader in literacy education, Mary previously served for 12 years as Director of the Vermont Reads Institute at the University of Vermont, where she led statewide professional learning focused on effective literacy practices.

Throughout her career, Mary has focused on designing high-quality professional development for educators, grounded in adult learning theory and strong program development. She began her work in education as an adult basic education teacher and later served as Director of Literacy Programs at the Vermont Humanities Council.

Mary also served for 16 years on Central Vermont Adult Basic Education’s board of directors and has been active with the Council of the Vermont Women’s Fund. She lives in Morrisville, Vermont, with her husband and two children.

Sarah Miller, M.Ed.

Literacy Consultant

Helping schools build vibrant communities of readers and writers.

Sarah Miller, M.Ed., is a literacy consultant with Partnerships for Literacy and Learning. She has worked with teachers and students in Vermont schools since 2009, serving as a middle school English Language Arts and Social Studies teacher as well as a school and district Literacy Instructional Coach in Chittenden County.

Across her career, Sarah has focused on engaging readers and writers in meaningful ways and ensuring students have access to literature and nonfiction that is both relevant and accessible. She is particularly committed to supporting young people in developing strong reading and writing identities and helping schools build vibrant literate communities.

Sarah began her career working with K–8 students at the “I Have a Dream” Foundation of Boulder County and earned her M.Ed. in Reading from Saint Michael’s College. She lives in Underhill, Vermont, with her husband, son, daughter, two dogs, and a cat.

Tammy Bourne, M.Ed.

Literacy Consultant

Supporting educators in building confident readers and writers.

Tammy Bourne, M.Ed., is a literacy consultant with Partnerships for Literacy and Learning. After retiring from a 39-year career in Vermont schools, Tammy joined PLL to continue supporting educators and students across the state.

Throughout her career, Tammy served in a variety of roles in Chittenden County and the Morristown School District, including special educator, consulting teacher, classroom teacher, and, most recently, literacy coach for grades K–4. She has long been passionate about helping students become confident, capable readers and writers while fostering a love of learning in the classroom.

In 2005, Tammy was honored as a University of Vermont Outstanding Teacher of the Year. She earned her M.Ed. as a Learning Specialist from Saint Michael’s College and lives in Hyde Park, Vermont, where she enjoys spending time with her three grandchildren.

Sara Blake, M.Ed., CAGS

Literacy Consultant

Partnering with educators to strengthen literacy systems.

Sara Blake, M.Ed., CAGS, is a literacy consultant with Partnerships for Literacy and Learning. After a 30-year career in Vermont schools, Sara joined PLL to continue supporting educators and strengthening literacy instruction across the state.

Sara began her career in Addison County as a Literacy Specialist and later served for twelve years as the district Literacy Coordinator in Colchester. She has worked closely with educators to build strong literacy systems and support students in becoming confident, capable readers and writers.

Sara holds an M.Ed. and a CAGS in Literacy Specialist from the University of Vermont and is endorsed as a Reading Language Arts Specialist. She lives in Charlotte, Vermont, with her husband, has two grown children, and is currently hoping to add a rescue dog to the family.

Barbara Murphy

Office Manager

Keeping PLL running smoothly behind the scenes.

Barbara Murphy is the Office Manager for Partnerships for Literacy and Learning. She joined PLL several years ago, bringing more than 45 years of managerial and bookkeeping experience to the organization.

Before joining PLL, Barbara spent 29 years working in a variety of roles at an advertising-based franchise company. Driven by her passion for helping others, she was excited to join the nonprofit sector. An added bonus was the opportunity to work with a dedicated team committed to enriching children’s lives.

Barbara lives in Warren, Vermont, with her high school sweetheart and husband of over 50 years. She enjoys spending time with her family and friends, especially her two beautiful grandchildren

Karen Weeks

Media Coordinator

Connecting PLL’s work with educators across Vermont.

Karen Weeks, M.Ed., is the Media Coordinator for Partnerships for Literacy and Learning. She joined PLL in 2019 after retiring from a 35-year career in education that included classroom teaching, special education, and educational leadership.

Karen began her career in elementary classrooms and spent much of her professional life in special education, with a particular focus on literacy instruction. She later served as a district Director of Special Education and finished her career as a middle school principal—a role she especially loved, noting that middle school students have a way of keeping you young.

Karen has also served for many years on the Lamoille Restorative Center’s board of directors. She enjoys contributing to PLL’s work while spending time with her husband, two grown daughters, and many grandchildren.

Voices From The Field

Milton Middle School Teacher

"Our PLL Literacy consultant is a master in the field of literacy and shared this knowledge in a kind and meaningful manner, elevating the work we are doing as teachers of literacy and creating a common language for how we talk about our readers, their needs, and goals. "

- Milton Middle School Teacher

Barton Academy Teacher

"Our PLL consultant did an excellent job—she clearly understood our perspectives and engaged meaningfully with our team."

- Barton Academy Teacher

Milton Middle School Teacher

"I regularly use the learning from PLL in my practice, from activities to profiles and assessments. "

- Milton Middle School Teacher

Milton Elementary School

"This profile work has been really wonderful, looking forward to seeing how it all works when we pilot it next year."

- Milton Elementary School

Carl Anderson Event Participant

"The presenter is extremely personable and knowledgeable about the subject matter, and used videos of student/class conferences strategically and in an engaging way. "