Tiffeni Johnson Fontno ('89)
Tiffeni Johnson Fontno (Class of 1989) is dedicated to ensuring all children can see themselves in books, a passion she traces back to her time in Beachwood Schools. Now serving as the Director of the Peabody Library at Vanderbilt University, Dr. Fontno emphasizes the lessons she learned in her formative years.
“Beachwood Schools taught me that every child needs to be seen, cared for, and have a place in the learning process,” she says. “I use my space as a librarian educator to help young people see themselves in youth literature and advocate for the right to read.”
After graduating from Beachwood High School, Dr. Fontno earned a bachelor’s degree in history from Ursuline College. She worked as a tutor at Tri-C’s Veteran’s Upward Bound Program, gaining valuable insights into the veteran experience. Later, she joined Progressive in insurance sales. And while not her ideal fit, she says the position “was a good check and helped me understand the importance of work ethic, even when you’re not in your preferred profession.”
Taking a bold leap, Dr. Fontno pursued librarianship, ultimately securing a prestigious library residency program at the University of Illinois in Chicago. Her four-year tenure working with government documents provided her with extensive exposure to policy-making and conducting in- depth research. After completing the residency program, Dr. Fontno accepted a position as a business librarian at Case Western Reserve University to be near her mother, who was terminally ill. Following her mother’s passing, Dr. Fontno found inspiration in her family of educators to become a teacher. She pursued a master’s degree at John Carroll University to earn her initial teaching licensure and a doctorate in education leadership from Dayton University.
Dr. Fontno’s love of education led to a rewarding career in public education, serving as a third-grade teacher and school librarian in Cleveland and Durham, North Carolina. Her dedication was recognized with a Teacher of the Year award from Durham Public Schools. She eventually transitioned to higher education, working with faculty and pre-service teachers at Boston College.
Now at the helm of Vanderbilt University’s prestigious Peabody Library, Dr. Fontno is at the forefront of promoting inclusive literature and collaborating with top education researchers. She firmly believes, “Literature reflects life, and all children should see themselves and their interests represented, as well as learn about others.”
Dr. Fontno’s career has shaped a rewarding and authentic life for her. Her advice to Beachwood students? “The sooner you figure out how to be comfortable being your most authentic self, the more you will get out of your life experiences and purpose.”