Susan Shaw McWilliams

Founding member and CEO

Susan McWilliams is a founding member and CEO of Book Bounce Inc. Susan began her career as an English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) teacher in Kathmandu, Nepal, where she volunteered at an all-boys school teaching English in grades 1-6 for approximately two years. Shortly after returning to the U.S., she attended law school, and began a career providing legal advice and representation to federal employees and small federal agencies on a wide variety of employment law matters. During her legal career, she lobbied Congress on behalf of career federal executives, wrote numerous legal publications for career federal employees and federal law enforcement officers, presented at national conferences, and appeared on radio to discuss matters important to federal employees. Additionally, she founded and ran a company that produced legal handbooks with a subscriber base of more than 100,000 federal employees and retirees, which she eventually sold.

In 2013, Susan transitioned back into teaching ESOL, working for Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS). Over the past eight years, she has taught ESOL in kindergarten through 12th grades, much of it at the middle school level. There, she saw her students struggle to catch up academically, despite many of them being born in the U.S. 

In the summer of 2020, Susan became convinced that to close the literacy gap for ESOL students, intervention would have to take place much earlier. This led her to search for early literacy interventions for Dual Language Learners (DLLs), eventually finding a promising study by researchers at the University of Oslo, University of Gothenburg, and Harvard Graduate School of Education. Susan contacted the researchers, who agreed to provide her with more information about their study. Based on their research, the idea for Book Bounce was born - pairing theme-based texts in the preschool child’s native language to be shared at home with the identical texts in English to be shared at school. 

In late fall of 2020, FCPS’ Family Literacy Program hired Susan to develop a pilot literacy project for DLL preschoolers, their families, and teachers. Rollout of that pilot program began in January 2021, and continued through the end of April. That program was very well received, and since then, more organizations began partnering with Book Bounce to bring the program to their preschool DLLs. 

In addition to serving as CEO for Book Bounce, Susan is an active member of her community. She has volunteered as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for abused and neglected children; served as a Girl Scout leader; taught Sunday school; and served on the board of directors for her homeowners association. She holds a B.A. in Education from Loyola University Maryland (Honors Program graduate), a J.D., cum laude, from St. Louis University School of Law, and a Virginia Postgraduate Professional License with Elementary Education PreK-6 endorsement and ESOL K-12 endorsement, primarily from the University of Virginia.

Joan Sitnik Walsh

Vice President and board member

Joan Walsh joined the board in 2023 and is currently serving as Vice President and board member. She has been involved in education for almost 25 years. She began her career as a classroom teacher in private and public school settings in the United States and Kenya, and currently works as an adjunct professor at George Mason University supporting graduate students pursuing their Master’s degree and teacher licensure in early childhood education.

Joan turned to teaching after working as an economic trade specialist with the U.S. Department of Commerce and serving in the U.S. Embassies in Bangladesh and Egypt.  She saw firsthand how education, especially amongst disenfranchised groups, is the gateway for individuals to have increased economic power and to become more independent. As Nelson Mandela says, “Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world.” Joan views reading as the most significant tool in a person’s arsenal and is committed to Book Bounce’s mission to close the literacy gap amongst dual language learners.  

Joan has served the communities in which she has lived in various and multiple ways.  She was a Girl Scout leader and Sunday school teacher in Bangladesh, Egypt, Kenya, and Virginia.  Joan is a former Madison High School (VA) Band Parent Board Member and Belong! Camp leader.  She currently volunteers as a Ready to Read volunteer with Fairfax County Public Library, bringing books to low income students in Fairfax County Public Schools.  Joan was honored in 2021 with the Town of Vienna, Virginia Mayor’s Award for her work feeding the families in her school community during the pandemic.  Joan has an undergraduate degree from the Catholic University of America.  She has a Master’s degree in Public and International Affairs from the University of Pittsburgh and a Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education from George Mason University.  

Terri Butler

Treasurer and board member

Terri Butler is a founding member and CFO of Book Bounce Inc.  Terri has been teaching English as a Second Language for 25 years at Northern Virginia Community College, serving as a program coordinator, instructor, tester, and mentor. As an instructor of college ESL reading, she noticed that many of her students had graduated from American high schools, and yet they still ended up in developmental English. This persistent literacy gap for English language learners beyond K – 12 education is one of the main reasons she decided to help found Book Bounce in order to address this problem at its earliest stages. 

As an ESL educator, Terri is passionate about learning innovative ways of teaching English pronunciation, speaking, listening, reading and writing. Fascinated by other cultures and languages, she has studied academic French, Russian, and Spanish, as well as travel Greek and Italian. This background as a language learner informs her methods of teaching English because she can better understand student perspectives. Additionally, Terri has presented about ESL writing at professional development workshops and been published in George Mason University’s scholastic journal, The Working Papers in Linguistics. 

As a past Treasurer and board member for the Washington Area Teachers to Speakers of Other Languages (WATESOL), Terri acted as on-site liaison for Fall Conventions at NVCC and also served on the planning committee for the TESOL International Convention in Baltimore. Over the years, she has also enjoyed working with children in her community as a Sunday school teacher, a program and music director for Vacation Bible School, and a Book Buddy literacy mentor for elementary school students in Fairfax County. Terri holds an M.A. in Linguistics with TESL Certification from George Mason University and a B.A. in International Studies from the College of William and Mary.

Suzy Thompson

Secretary and board member

Suzy Thompson is a founding member and Secretary of Book Bounce Inc.  Suzy has been teaching English as a Second Language for over 24 years in Fairfax County Public Schools, ages K-12. Currently a lead teacher, mentor, instructional support teacher, and curriculum writer, she works with students in a nontraditional school setting. Her students in her classes are engaged, educated, and supported.

Suzy has taught in Russia and lived and traveled around the world, immersing herself in various cultures. Her undergraduate degree from James Madison University was followed by a Master's in Education in ESOL and French from George Mason University, and a Master of Social Work from Virginia Commonwealth University. Suzy has worked with students of varying backgrounds and needs. During that time, she noticed that many of her students had difficulties due to limited foundational reading abilities. The creation of Book Bounce, based on proven research studies, is fulfilling her dream of helping young language learners close the literacy gap. 

As an educator, leader, author of a children’s book, volunteer, and parent, Suzy is passionate about the families in her community. Over the years, she has enjoyed working with children and families as a volunteer with the Literacy Council of Northern Virginia, Nurturing Parenting Program, She Believes in Me, Community for Helping Others, and her church. She is also a Girl Scout co-leader, Cub Scout co-leader, Member on the Board at Main Street Child Development Center, and PTA Vice President of Communications. Her book, Sea Rescue, involves children in environmental rescues with all proceeds going to MS research. She loves Book Bounce because it combines language, learning, and culture with the love and skills of reading.

John Cuddihy 

Board member

John Cuddihy joined the board in 2021 and brings extensive legal and business development experience to Book Bounce.

John currently serves as the Senior Vice President and Deputy General Counsel of Scientific Games Corporation, which is a global leader in the gaming and lottery industries.  Headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada, with approximately 10,000 employees worldwide, the company serves its customers from manufacturing, printing, and commercial facilities on six continents.  Before joining Scientific Games, John was a partner in two international law firms headquartered in the United States, where he specialized in helping companies to resolve complex commercial disputes.  Before attending law school, John served as a speechwriter and media affairs officer for U.S. Ambassador Madeleine K. Albright at the United Nations, and for New Jersey Governor James J. Florio.  John earned his law degree from the Georgetown University Law Center, and his undergraduate degree in International Politics from the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University.