Susan B. Neuman

Susan B. Neuman is an American educator, researcher, and education policy-maker specializing in early childhood and literacy development. Neuman serves as professor and chair of the Teaching and Learning Department at the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development at New York University. Her research and teaching focus on early childhood policy, curriculum, and early reading instruction for children living in poverty, with an emphasis on improving literacy outcomes in underserved communities.

Before joining New York University, Neuman served as assistant secretary of Elementary and Secondary Education in the United States Department of Education, where she was primarily responsible for the initial implementation of the No Child Left Behind Act. In this role, she established the Early Reading First program, developed the Early Childhood Educator Professional Development Program, and oversaw all activities in Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Act. Neuman also served on the faculty in Educational Studies at the University of Michigan, where she directed the Ready-to-Learn Research Program.

Neuman has written or edited 12 books and more than 100 peer-reviewed articles on topics including media literacy, early childhood literacy education and curriculum, family literacy, parent education, and education policy. Her major works include the three-volume "Handbook of Early Literacy Research" (Guilford Press), "Changing the Odds for Children at Risk" (Teachers College Press), "Educating the Other America" (Brookes), "Multimedia and Literacy Development" (Taylor & Francis), and "Giving Our Children a Fighting Chance," co-authored with Donna Celano. This work examines how disparities in affluence and poverty create a knowledge gap with significant implications for students' economic and social mobility. Neuman also co-authored "All About Words" with Tanya Wright, which presents a research-based approach to teaching content-rich vocabulary.

Central to Neuman's research is a commitment to equity and evidence-based practice in early childhood education. She emphasizes the importance of providing at-risk children with a strong foundation of knowledge through words, meanings, and interconnected concepts that relate to real-world experiences. Neuman advocates for intensive, high-quality programs anchored in best practices to close the achievement gap for at-risk children in the United States. Her ongoing research focuses on interventions that improve outcomes for children at risk, including content-rich instruction delivered through shared books and media experiences.

Neuman has served on the International Literacy Association Board of Directors and as co-editor of Reading Research Quarterly, the association's flagship research journal. She is a frequent keynote speaker on topics related to early literacy, education policy, and strategies for fostering learning in children from diverse socio-economic backgrounds. With a career spanning academia, federal government, and community initiatives, Neuman is recognized as a leading voice in American education, particularly in early childhood literacy and education policy.