Dear Team Read Community,

We’re thrilled to announce that Melissa Pailthorp will become the new executive director of Team Read, leading the organization forward in our efforts to help children
reach reading success.

We send this announcement with excitement for what is to come and gratitude to the amazing Maureen Massey, who led Team Read for nearly 20 years and has chosen to retire this month.

We are confident that Melissa is the right person to build on Team Read’s accomplishments in Seattle and Highline, while strategically extending our reach and impact into other school districts.

Melissa brings to Team Read a commitment to public education and deep development expertise in non-profit, corporate, and philanthropic settings. During her tenure at Microsoft, she helped grow its successful U.S. donations platform globally. At the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, she worked on scaling its Global Libraries Program and worked across its U.S. Program focused on public education.

Melissa was selected following a comprehensive recruitment effort led by the board’s search committee – comprised of board and staff members, as well as community stakeholders – and led with great sensitivity and skill by Clover Search Works. The committee sifted through a robust pool of candidates and in conjunction with the board, unanimously selected Melissa to be the person to lead Team Read into the future. Maureen, the Team Read staff, and the board have spent the past year in succession planning to ensure a smooth leadership transition.

“I am thrilled that Melissa is bringing her deep commitment to children, teens, and public education to Team Read,” shared Maureen. “We are so fortunate to have someone with her background and experience in business and philanthropy leading the organization.”

Melissa joins Team Read when the program is poised to expand. “I’m honored to join an organization with proven commitment and success in engaging a beautifully diverse range of kids as leaders and readers! I’m hugely excited by our opportunity to grow the work from here.”

Please join us in extending a warm welcome to Melissa. She starts on June 18! And do reach out to us if you have any questions during this important time for Team Read.

Sincerely,

Brandon Hull
Board Chair
206-913-8220
brandon.hull@me.com

Chris Burns
Search Committee Chair
206-459-9229
cyburns68@gmail.com