Joan Prouty, an independent consultant, joined the Maine Humanities Council as a consultant to Born to Read in the fall of 2006. Joan’s background is in Early Childhood Education. Since her graduation from the University of Maine, Orono, and the Merrill Palmer Institute of Human Development, she has dedicated her professional life to roles that have allowed her to provide and promote quality early care and education. Joan believes strongly that positive early childhood experiences help children to enter school and all early life experiences, eager to learn and with great potential for becoming healthy, productive members of our communities. Her earlier professional positions have included work at PROP, United Way of Greater Portland, Program Coordinator at East End Children’s Workshop, and Child Care Director, Associate Executive Director, and Interim Executive Director at YWCA. Joan resides in Gorham. She and her husband have two grown children and enjoy three grandchildren.