Ellen A Wood
Ellen Wood is the Director of Residential Services at Kurn Hattin Homes for Children, where she leads K–8 residential life programming with a strong focus on structure, community, and student development. Since stepping into this role in 2020, she has overseen the day-to-day residential experience, ensuring that students are supported in a safe, engaging, and growth-oriented environment. Her work is highly responsive and dynamic, requiring her to adapt quickly to the needs of students and the rhythm of the school year, from behavioral support and daily routines to organizing celebrations and milestone events such as graduations.
Ellen’s career in education began in 1992 when she joined Landmark College shortly after completing her undergraduate studies. Over nearly 28 years at the institution, she served in multiple roles including Resident Dean, Associate Professor in the Communications Department, and athletic coach. Her work blended academics, residence life, and student engagement, with a strong emphasis on supporting neurodiverse learners. During this time, she also developed innovative programming that integrated athletics with social learning, helping students build essential life and communication skills in practical, hands-on ways.
Her experience working with young adults at Landmark College ultimately inspired a shift in focus toward earlier intervention and foundational skill-building. She observed students arriving without key life skills and felt compelled to return to the K–8 environment to create impact earlier in a child’s development. In 2020, she transitioned into her current leadership role, where she now focuses on building cohesive teams, strengthening community culture, and aligning staff and students around shared goals. Ellen earned her Master of Education from Antioch University New England and holds a graduate certificate in Autism Spectrum Disorders. She is also a certified CPI Instructor and serves on the board of the AIDS Project of Southern Vermont, reflecting her ongoing commitment to education, inclusion, and community service.
• ASD Certificate, Education/Teaching of Individuals with Autism
• CPI Certified Instructor
• Autism Spectrum Disorders Certificate Program
• Antioch University New England - MEd, Education/Teaching of Individuals with Autism
• Lyndon State College - BS, Mass Communication/Media Studies
• Keynote Speaker at Learning Disabilities Association of America Conference 2020
• College Hall of Fame Inductee (Coaching)
• High School Volleyball Hall of Fame Inductee
• Torchbearer for 2002 Winter Olympics Salt Lake City
• Who's Who for American Teachers
• Aids Project Of Southern Vt
• Putney Rec League
What do you attribute your success to?
I think my undergrad was in communication, and that really transcends everything - how do you effectively talk with and work with people? I think that's the number one skill set that I try to give to my staff. Our job is to be a team, and how do you build that team, build community, and get everybody on the same page to successfully meet the organization's goals? That's how I've always approached working, whether with college students, with colleagues, or building a staff and student population. They see me as a resource because I keep it very professional, but I'm also very personable. It's about effective communication and building meaningful relationships with the people I work with.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
My number one mentor was Donna Wheeler, who ran the short-term programs at the college I went to while I was still in college. She really laid the groundwork of how to be effective and efficient at your job, and how to be a really kind, caring, but also high expectations supervisor. She taught me how to balance compassion with accountability and maintain high standards while still being supportive. That foundation she gave me has shaped my entire approach to leadership and supervision throughout my career.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Diversify your experience, so that way, if you want to pivot, you can. You need to have a wealth of background so that when opportunities come up, you're ready for them. For me, I was a professor, a coach, and I worked with the residential side, so that way, when I went and got my master's, it opened up the door for me to then pivot in a direction that I wanted to go in, because I had a wealth of opportunity at the college on my resume. Having that diverse experience gives you flexibility and options throughout your career.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
I think the biggest challenge that concerns me is the state of higher education as a whole. We just had a couple of small colleges in Massachusetts, not too far from here, shutting down - Hampshire College was the latest one, and there was another one in northern Vermont that was really geared for people interested in agriculture. That just makes me worried that more students are not going to have the same choices to go to smaller specialty schools. People who have unique career goals are not going to have the same options, and that's my biggest concern - the state of higher education as a whole and what it means for students pursuing specialized educational paths.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Building effective teams and meaningful relationships is at the core of everything I do. I believe in being professional but also personable - people need to see me as a resource they can turn to. Communication is essential, and so is being kind and caring while also maintaining high expectations. In my personal life, I value staying active and being outside - whether that's golf, working out at my local gym, spending time with my dogs, or gardening. Anything that gets me outside is important to me. I also find great fulfillment in mentoring the next generation of professionals and helping them grow in this field, passing along the skills and best practices I've gained throughout my career.