As part of its commitment to creating an experience of belonging for all staff, the New England Center for Children (NECC) has established several Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) to provide a dedicated safe space of support, community, and learning for employees.
On January 31, 2023, Mike McKenna embarked on a four-month walk across the United States to increase awareness of autism and raise funds for The New England Center for Children® (NECC®), a leader in autism education and research, where his son Michael has been a student for 17 years.
Chris Lovell joined the Food Services team at NECC in September 2017. She was nominated by colleagues because she “takes her time to get to know students, staff, her colleagues, and pretty much anyone she meets. She is always very helpful and always has a great, positive attitude.”
NECC's DEI Director Fatou Njie-Jallow shares a blueprint for DEI action and policy for autism service providers, which was published in the Winter 2023 issue of Autism Spectrum News.
Sirlei Soto, a health assistant for NECC’s ITT, was nominated by a colleague because she “always brings a positive attitude to the shift and is so friendly to everyone she meets. She goes out of her way to ensure she knows the name of all staff and students across ITT.”
Benjamin Boi, a residential counselor for The New England Center for Children’s (NECC) Intensive Treatment Team Apartment 1, has worked for NECC since 2006. Boi was nominated by colleagues because he is “the most deserving and is truly incredible,” and “brings a positive attitude to every shift he works."
Rebecca Van Valkenburgh, a residential coordinator for The New England Center for Children’s (NECC) Saddle Hill Road residence, is in her fourth year working for NECC. She was nominated by a colleague because she “goes above and beyond to advocate for both staff and students on Saddle Hill Road."
Julie LeBlanc, vocational specialist for NECC, was nominated by a colleague because she “goes above and beyond to ensure our students have access to meaningful vocational opportunities and are making progress. She is so thoughtful and really tailors things to each individual student's needs and abilities.”
During a December 5 school committee meeting, officials from the special education department in the Westfield Public Schools shared an update on how the staffing shortage has created challenges for the district in delivering special education services, and how the ACE® ABA Software System has helped assuage them.
Carley Woolcott, a day coordinator for NECC’s ITT Apartment 2, was nominated for Staff Spotlight by a colleague because “she is a “phenomenal leader” and “has great rapport with EVERY student on the team.”
