Emily Randrup, MSEd, BCBA, an education specialist in The New England Center for Children’s (NECC) Adult Services program, has worked at NECC for eight years. She was nominated for Staff Spotlight by a colleague because “you can see the genuine happiness in her eyes when she sees students make progress in the IEP classes and in their use of functional language. With staff, she always goes above and beyond to support us by providing prompt feedback, problem-solving during challenging moments, and recognizing everyone’s progress along the way. She is a role model for me to learn from every day.”

How long have you worked for NECC?

I have worked at NECC for eight years; as a level 2 teacher on Higley Road for three years, and an education coordinator for Saddle Hill for five years. At the start of this contract year, I moved over to the Adult Services team as an educational specialist.

What is your favorite part of your job?

My favorite part of my job is helping individuals learn skills that either increase their independence or have a meaningful impact on their lives and their families’ lives. 

What are your duties working in the Adult Services program?

My duties include overseeing individuals’ ISPs and the associated curricula, training staff on the implementation of these plans and different teaching methods, overseeing vocational and volunteer programs for the individuals, overseeing daily functions (e.g., nutrition, activities of daily living, chores) at the house, and collaborating with the individuals and staff to ensure we are providing access to a variety of enriching activities both at the house and throughout the community. 

Why NECC?

I went to Hamilton College and heard many great things about NECC while I was there due to the partnership between Hamilton and NECC. During junior year of college, I went to France for a semester abroad and my roommate came to Southborough for a semester internship at NECC. After her great experience, she encouraged me to look at NECC for a job after graduation. When I learned about the graduate programs, coupled with the teaching and applied behavior analysis (ABA) experience it could provide me with, I knew it would be a good fit. 

Have you taken advantage of any of the grad programs or teacher training at NECC? If so, how has it affected your teaching style?

Yes! I started with the Simmons University program where I received my master’s degree in special education and then proceeded to complete the Western New England University (WNEU) two-year extension program for their ABA program so I could become a BCBA. I thoroughly enjoyed completing the programs in that order, because my first passion was teaching, and my connection with ABA grew while working in NECC’s residential program. This meant that when I completed the WNEU ABA program, I was able to connect the coursework with my three previous years’ experience at NECC and develop a better understanding of both the mechanics of behavior analysis and the rationale behind the programming I was implementing daily. 

What is something about you that your colleagues might be surprised to learn?

Something they might be surprised to learn is that I played rugby in college. 

Who is someone you look up to?

I look up to Sarah Phelan, who really has shaped my career at NECC. When I started, she was my core shift manager (CSM), then when I was backup CSM, she was my residential coordinator; we then went on to be co-supervisors on a different residence (Sarah as the residential coordinator, me as the education coordinator). Throughout our careers at NECC together, across different departments and positions, she taught me how to teach, learn, and, most importantly, how to advocate for our students to provide them with the best possible programming. 

What is your life philosophy or motto you like to live by?

The motto I live by is quite simple but has many different applications throughout my personal and professional life: “Be a friend.”