Behind the Book
Brian Trauman is a seasoned professional with extensive experience in risk management and tax, currently serving as the National Partner-in-Charge of Tax and Chief Data Officer for KPMG, roles held since May 2010. Trauman also leads the National US Transfer Pricing Dispute Resolution and National US Transfer Pricing Practice. In addition to these responsibilities, Trauman is a member of the OnCon Senior Council, contributing insights on emerging industry challenges. Active in nonprofit governance, Trauman serves as Treasurer and Chair of the Finance Committee for Behind the Book. Previous positions include partner at Mayer Brown LLP, attorney-advisor at the US Tax Court, and legal clerk at GrayRobinson, P.A. and Fine, Farkash & Parlapiano. Academic credentials include an LLM in Tax Law from New York University School of Law, a JD from Georgetown University Law Center, and dual BSBA degrees in Finance from the University of Florida.
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Behind the Book
Behind the Book’s mission is to strengthen literacy in students from low-income communities with programs that bring books to life. Working directly in the classroom, in partnership with the teacher, our expert staff develops programs around a specific piece of contemporary urban literature and its author. A series of workshops builds on the book and approaches the writing process from every angle, bringing the book to life for the kids. With books in their hands and inspiration in their classrooms, kids read, write, and illustrate their own stories. Behind the Book serves New York City public schools - exclusively those at which 75% or more of the student population lives at or below the federal poverty line. Our programs are designed to strengthen reading engagement, which literacy professionals identify as a key criteria needed to develop reading, writing and communication skills. All Behind the Book programs are incorporated into class curricula and meet Common Core Learning Standards. We work closely with each classroom’s teacher to select an author whose book will resonate with students, reflect the classroom’s diversity, and match the students’ capabilities. We develop a custom program centered on the book, and transition the reading material into writing projects. Programs incorporate more than author visits – there are writing coaches and research aides; arts projects and field trips. Many culminate with Behind the Book designing and publishing an anthology of the students’ work and providing copies for each student to keep. We gift books to the students and donate additional books to the classroom and school libraries. This school year, we are working with nearly 2,000 students, and have committed to distributing over 10,000 books.