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.

As Deputy Director, Beth manages the comprehensive infrastructure of the State Advisory Council, seven Vermont Early Childhood Action Plan Committees, and 12 Regional Councils and works with individuals, organizations, and agencies to develop the best approaches for an integrated system that advances data-driven progress for all of Vermont’s young children and their families. Beth works to carry out the vision outlined in Vermont’s Early Childhood Action Plan to improve outcomes for children and families. Beth joined the BBF team in 2014, and since then, she has served as the Interim Executive Director, VECAP Director, and Chittenden Regional Coordinator. Previously she worked for the City of Burlington managing the city’s community engagement, AmeriCorps, and cultural competency programs. Beth’s skills are in strategic systems change, organization development, creating more equitable systems, engaged decision-making, and facilitation. She lives in Burlington, Vermont, with her partner, Tracy, and their two daughters.

Ali Dieng is a passionate and dedicated community leader who supports BBF’s Chittenden, Central Vermont and 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. Ali also brings an understanding of the early childhood, after-school, and social service systems and a desire to cultivate connections across the three regions he serves in Northern Vermont. Ali is a 2016 graduate of the Snelling Center for Government’s Early Childhood Leadership Institute. His education background is in international law, which he studied at the University of Mauritania in Africa. In addition to his work with BBF, Ali loves being involved in the community in various capacities. He currently serves on the board of directors at the Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunities (CVOEO) and is in his second term as a Burlington City Counselor. He resides in Burlington with his wife, Angela, and their two daughters.

Allison brings joy and enthusiasm to her role as Finance Manager for Building Bright Futures. Her professional journey has encompassed finance, analytical, and accounting roles at The UVM Medical Center, NRG Systems, and Shelburne Farms, where she’s combined her passion for spreadsheets with her love of mission-driven work. She is proud to provide fiscal and organizational management to support BBF’s mission and vision across the State. A longtime resident of Burlington, Allison loves gardening, her cats, local foods, spending time with her friends, and celebrating the beauty of Vermont.

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, where she studied education policy and management and served as a Saul Zaentz Early Education Initiative Fellow. Prior to graduate school, she worked with Let’s Grow Kids as a Policy and Research Analyst. Anna brings a background in early childhood systems analysis, data and statistical analysis, and Vermont’s policy landscape to the team. Anna is an avid reader, a native Vermonter, and enjoys spending summers at her family’s camp in the Northeast Kingdom.

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, which builds on her work most recently as a Community Outreach Specialist in community health with Mt. Ascutney Hospital and Health Center. Her passion is in providing equitable access to services, particularly building quality child care with a universal foundation of social and emotional support. Courtney devotes time volunteering as a member of the Windsor Rotary Club and enjoys reading, hiking, kayaking, and finding other adventures throughout New England’s stunning landscape. Courtney holds a MA and a BA in Communications and Media Studies from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania. She lives in Cavendish, Vermont, with her two sons and two cats.

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. Working on projects that bring communities together is when Darla finds herself most energized. Darla can often be found working in her gardens, regularly accompanied by her cat Angus.

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. Dora lives in Dummerston, Vermont, with her partner, toddler, and dogs and enjoys hiking, cuddling, cooking, and building community.

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.

Linda is the Building Bright Futures Regional Manager for Lamoille, 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. Linda serves on the boards of directors of Northeast Kingdom Learning Services, the Lake Region Union High School, and elementary and middle school boards. She is also a Justice of the Peace and is on the Board of Civil Authority for the Town of Westmore, where she resides. She enjoys living in the NEK and taking advantage of all the great outdoor natural resources it has to offer!

Nicole D’Agostino serves as the Data and Policy Manager at 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. Nicole brings over 10 years of experience in data analytics and management, including with the State of Vermont, MIT, and the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston. She earned her master’s degree in Public Policy from Brandeis University in 2020, with a focus on economic and racial equity. In addition to her work at BBF, Nicole serves on Middlesex’s Planning Commission and deeply enjoys work involving community development. She resides with her husband, Josh, and their two daughters in Middlesex, Vermont, where she enjoys playing sports outdoors and reading.