BBF employees form a statewide network of early childhood professionals, working both in communities and on the state level. We use a collaborative model to work toward meeting the diverse needs of Vermont’s young children and families. Learn more about BBF staff below.
Morgan Crossman
Executive Director
As the Executive Director of BBF and Vermont’s Early Childhood Data and Policy Center, Dr. Crossman is responsible for leading the vision and strategic plan of Vermont’s early childhood system and serving as the primary advisor to the Governor and Legislature on the well-being of children from prenatal to age 8 and their families, using evidence and data to inform policy and service provision.
[email protected]
802-881-1264
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Beth Truzansky
Deputy Director
Beth Truzansky has spent her career bringing people together to respond to complex social issues. She has worked with state agencies, nonprofits, municipalities, and small businesses to build systems that are responsive to the changing needs of the communities, families, and individuals they serve. Beth’s skills are in engaged decision-making, strategic systems change, organization development, training, and group facilitation.
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Ali Dieng
Regional Manager for Chittenden, Franklin, and Grand Isle
Ali Dieng is a passionate and dedicated community leader who supports BBF’s Chittenden, Franklin, and Grand Isle regions. Ali joined the BBF team from the education sector, where he engaged parents, educators, and community partners by running Parent University and served in various roles for the Burlington School District over 13 years. Ali is committed to building more equitable and accessible systems and brings his expertise engaging diverse perspectives, especially those from different socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds.
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Anna Brouillette
Policy and Program Director
As Policy and Program Director, Anna Brouillette supports BBF’s efforts to utilize evidence and leverage partnerships to improve well-being for Vermont’s children and families. Anna joined the BBF team after holding a number of roles in the early childhood policy field, most recently with the Prenatal-to-3 Policy Impact Center, where she analyzed and supported states’ progress towards implementing effective policies for young children and their families. Anna holds an MEd from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.
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Courtney Hillhouse
Regional Manager for Southeast Vermont, Northern Windsor and Orange, and Springfield Area
Courtney serves as the Regional Manager for Southeast Vermont, the Springfield Area, and Northern Windsor & Orange counties. Courtney has a passion for creating social change and improving the lives of children and families and the early childhood workforce. She brings diverse skills in community outreach, public health, prevention, marketing, and community problem-solving to this role.
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Darla Senecal
Regional Manager for Bennington, Rutland, and Addison
Darla serves as the Regional Manger for Bennington, Addison, and Rutland counties. She works to support collaboration among families, educators, community partners, and others dedicated to creating the best outcomes for children and families. Darla has spent much of her career working in community service, first as a volunteer, then as a Recreation Director for 17 years, and most recently as a newly elected Selectboard member in the Town of Bristol, Vermont.
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Dora Levinson
Research and Data Director
Dora serves as the Research and Data Director for Building Bright Futures and Vermont’s Early Childhood Data and Policy Center (Vermontkidsdata.org). In both roles, she works with the most high-quality, up-to-date data and evidence to inform policy and practice. She continues to find inspiration in seeing the impact that effective policies and community collaboration have in shaping the lives of children and families.
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Kate Bailey
Network Manager
As Network Manager, Kate helps foster accessible and efficient systems of communication and impact across the BBF Network. Her areas of expertise include making sure all voices are heard, appreciative inquiry, and meeting facilitation. She holds a master’s degree in Health Advocacy with a focus on equity-based health policy and community organizing. Before BBF, Kate worked at Vermont Legal Aid.
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Katie Mobbs
Office Manager
As the Office Manager for BBF, Katie wears many hats, and her tasks range from accounts payable and receivable to event planning to human resources to maintaining day-to-day operations for BBF. Katie has over 20 years of experience in this field; before coming to work for BBF, she worked for the Visiting Nurse Association for many years. In her free time, Katie enjoys spending time with her family exploring the woods of the Northeast Kingdom.
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Kelly Hayes
Regional Manager for Lamoille Valley and Central Vermont
Kelly Hayes brings extensive experience to our team of Regional Managers. She has over 20 years of experience as an early childhood professional, having worked as an infant/toddler teacher, an early interventionist, a home-based provider, and a center director. She holds a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education from Plymouth State College and an M.S. from Wheelock College’s “Birth to Three: Development and Intervention” program.
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Kitty Foster
Data Coordinator
Kitty supports the work of the Data and Policy team to make data-informed decisions about Vermont’s Early Childhood System. She first became involved with community engagement and nonprofit work as a project lead for the Vermont Youth Conservation Corps. Following this role, she worked as a research assistant for The Adolescent Brain and Cognitive Development Study, which supported data collection for a nationwide data set on brain development and child health.
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Linda Michniewicz
Regional Manager for Caledonia/Southern Essex and Orleans/Northern Essex
Linda is the Building Bright Futures Regional Manager for Caledonia, Essex, and Orleans Counties. She has devoted her career to early childhood education, starting as a preschool teacher, Head Start director, and most recently, the Early Childhood Program Coordinator for the Caledonia North Supervisory Union.
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Michelle Kersey
Vermont Early Childhood Fund Grants Manager
Michelle Kersey is thrilled to join the Building Bright Futures team as the Vermont Early Childhood Fund Grants Manager. She comes with more than two decades of fundraising experience and looks forward to using her understanding of the grant application process to create a strong program for BBF. Most recently, she has worked for a nonprofit affordable housing organization.
[email protected]
802-281-3709
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Tanya LaChapelle
Family Leadership Coordinator
Tanya LaChapelle is a compassionate leader who supports BBF’s family leadership and partnership efforts, including the Families and Communities VECAP Committee. Tanya has a background in early childhood education, with recent fieldwork coaching and advising early childhood programs toward better outcomes for children and families. She is dedicated to building informed systems and brings expertise in instruction, administration, and mentoring.
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Valerie F. Wood
Early Childhood Systems Evaluator
Valerie brings expertise in both quantitative and qualitative research and evaluation methods to her role as Early Childhood Systems Evaluator. She leads BBF’s effort to monitor and report on Vermont’s progress towards building an integrated, well-resourced, data-informed early childhood system that ensures all children have a healthy start, families and communities play a leading role in children’s well-being, and all children and families have access to high-quality opportunities that meet their needs.
