Amy Nussbaum

Amy serves as the Assistant Director of Literacy Design Innovation, working to bridge educational practice and teacher formation with the science of learning.  As such, she works within and fosters collaboration among units both in and beyond the Institute--namely ACE Teaching Fellows, Tutor-ND, the Cognition Learning and Development Lab, and the broader South Bend community.  In addition to serving as faculty of supervision and instruction for the ACE Teaching Fellows Program, Amy coaches current and aspiring educators who serve as tutors through Tutor-ND, and works with local teachers and schools partnering with ACE's teacher formation efforts, as well as the ACE Teaching Fellows Program itself, to design and implement instructional routines and literacy curricula consistent with the science of learning. 

Amy earned her bachelor’s degree from Holy Cross College in 2002 followed by her Montessori education certification from Montessori Teacher Preparation in Kent, Washington. She later earned her M.A.T. degree from Marian University. Her professional journey has been as a teacher and school board member in Catholic schools, as a Head of School in both the private and public sectors in Montessori education, and as an instructor of early childhood education and elementary reading courses at the collegiate level. Professional interests include Montessori education, implementation of the Science of Reading into classrooms and Teacher Education Programs, supervision of future teachers to empower them to be their best selves, and working to help children to grow academically, spiritually, and emotionally, especially within the South Bend community. She and her husband have three sons and a dog who was trained to be a therapy presence in schools.  She loves to travel (especially to visit schools across the globe), serve schools in our community through various volunteer opportunities, and spend time with family watching her children through youth sports and activities.