Please join us in welcoming our newest team members who will help us expand our services and deepen our curricular offerings to schools.
Sandra Ford began serving as our new Reading Curriculum Coordinator this past August. A graduate of Salve Regina University with a Master’s in Education-Curriculum, Teaching and Research and a Bachelor of Arts in Special Education, she has held multiple leadership positions, including Executive Director of Special Education and Student Services, Building Principial, Special Education Instructional Supervisor, Literacy Coach and School Mentoring and Instruction Coordinator. For nearly 30 years she has served as a special education teacher where she conferred with parents, administrators, testing specialists, social workers, and professionals to develop individual education plans designed to promote students’ educational and social development. She has a deep understanding of how to collaborate with regular education teachers and/or multiple teachers to plan and present lesson plans, create assessments, and differentiate instruction to meet student needs. Sandra also has a wealth of experience developing and adapting curriculum materials and educational practices, and designing appropriate accommodations to meet the individual needs of students. One of Sandra’s main areas of responsibilities includes supporting teachers in our partner schools who are implementing the LexiaCore5 Supplemental Reading Program this fall.
Shirley Hardison has been with us in two of our partner schools since August of 2020. She received her Master of Special Education degree from Fairfield University and graduated from the University of Louisville in Elementary Education, with an endorsement in special education. Shirley was a special education teacher in Danbury, Connecticut and Newtown Public Schools where she served all grade levels. She was also a tutor of individual students and small groups for Catapult Learning. This past year, she has been the special education teacher at both Holy Family Holy Name School and All Saints School in New Bedford where she will continue for the 2021-2022 school year.
We also welcomed Bridget Hernandez in October of 2020. Bridget received her Master of Special Education from Lesley College and graduated from Wheelock College in Early Childhood Development. Over the years, she has been the special education teacher in the Freetown-Lakeville Middle School, Coyle and Cassidy High School and Brockton High School.
