Dr. Susan Zoll, PhD is associate professor (Early Childhood Education) at Rhode Island College. She has served in leadership roles on several Early Reading First projects (ERF 2004, 2006, 2009) funded by the U.S. Department of Education; and her work on the development of Personal Literacy Plans, a tool to share individualized assessment outcomes with teachers and families, was recognized by the Doing What Works initiative. Her dissertation, “From “at risk” to “at promise”: An Evaluation of an Early Reading First Project” speaks to the need for increased access to high-quality early language & literacy opportunities to prepare all children for reading success. Dr. Zoll is a Montessori educator and has also served as a teacher trainer (Language), and Head of School. Her recent research includes the development of a Montessori logic model (2019), an overview of assessment and observation practices in Montessori classrooms (2023). She is also coauthor of two books, Powerful Literacy in the Montessori Classroom (2023) and Powerful Literacy in Practice: A Guide to Implementing Research-Based Instruction in the Montessori Classroom (2025).