Mary Grassi, Title I Director for Cambridge Public Schools, has been recognized with the 2019 Excellence in Literacy Leadership Award presented by the Reading Recovery Council of North America.
Each year, Reading Recovery teacher leaders from across the country nominate individuals to receive
this prestigious award. Recipients, who are not trained in Reading Recovery, have displayed a strong
commitment to expand and maintain its high standards and made significant contributions to
implementation beyond the local level.
–Reading Recovery Council of North America
During her 40 year career in Cambridge, Mary Grassi has worked as a substitute teacher, classroom
teacher, Title I reading specialist, and Title I curriculum coordinator. She has been integral to the
development and growth of Reading Recovery in the Cambridge area for the past 25 years. As site
coordinator for five school districts, her efforts have helped create a strong model that allows for layers
of intervention in response to literacy needs of all children.
Mary connects with other Title I directors across the state, working to ensure financing is available to
support training and ongoing professional development for Reading Recovery teaching and
implementation. She is a founding member of the Reading Recovery Council of Massachusetts and
serves in a variety of roles at the district and state level, receiving numerous awards in her tenure.
“Mary Grassi is a tireless advocate for Reading Recovery,” said Teacher Leader Karen Tlili who, along
with Teacher Leader Maureen Bobbin, nominated Mary. “She knows that having access to Reading
Recovery is essential for the children who need it most, and she works to maintain and extend
implementation. She sits on the networking committee of the state council, focusing on recruiting new
districts and increasing awareness across the state.”