What is MAAPS?
MAAPS is your community of out-of-district, approved special education schools - all of which offer a vital service to both public school district and privately placed students. I should know; I was one of them.
Attending one of the MAAPS member schools provided me the appropriate skills I needed to flourish in my education. I never felt more included than when I attended a specialized school. Today, it is my privilege to advocate on behalf of all of the approved special education schools as the Executive Director of MAAPS.
MAAPS represents over 80 approved schools for students with special needs in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. MAAPS provides a range of services to its members, including professional development, marketing, diversity initiatives, government relations, external affairs, and peer enterprises. Membership in MAAPS affirms a commitment by our schools to ethical practices, non-discrimination, and extraordinary education.
Sincerely,
Elizabeth Becker, Esq.
Executive Director
Meet the Staff
Elizabeth Dello Russo Becker
Mark P. de Chabert
James Daiute
Amanda Kane
Renee Sousa
MAAPS is a trade association that provides services and advocacy for member schools. MAAPS does not provide placement consultations or facilitate referrals for individual students. If you are a parent or professional calling about an individual student, please refer to the online directory for school admission contact information and the placement resources section of maaps.org for other helpful information.
Meet the Board
President
SHAUN CUSSON
Hillcrest Educational Centers
Vice President
KATHLEEN LOVENBURY
Crystal Springs, Inc.
Treasurer
CHRIS HUNT
Partners in Child Development (PCD)
Clerk
BRIDGET IRISH
Cotting School
Delegate-at-Large
ED BOSSO
Perkins School for the Blind
Delegate-at-Large
LAURA LAJEWSKI
COMPASS
Immediate Past President
MICHAEL AMES
RFK Community Alliance
Regional Delegates
Hover over region to see members.
Western Region
- Jill Brewer, Springdale Education Center
- Robert Carter, Willie Ross School for the Deaf
- Shaun Cusson, Hillcrest Educational Centers
- Jodi Michalski, White Oak School
- No Alternate
Central Region
- Michael Ames, RFK Community Alliance
- Karen Bishop, Learning Center for the Deaf
- Brian Doyle, Center for Applied Behavioral Instruction (CABI)
- Karen McCarthy, Brandon School & Residential Treatment Center
- Jessica Sassi, The New England Center for Children
- Phill Ekberg, Alternate, Wayside Academy
Boston Region
- Ed Bosso, Perkins School for the Blind
- Michael Culhane, Farr Academy
- Sarah Folk, Milestones, Inc.
- Wil Fredian, Gifford School
- Bridget Irish, Cotting School
- Laura Lajewski, COMPASS, Inc.
- Amy Sousa, The Guild School
- Mark Lucier, Alternate, Community Therapeutic Day School
- David Zimmer, Alternate, Manville School/Judge Baker Children's Center
Northeast Region
- Joseph Cronin, St. Ann's Home
- Rita Gardner, Melmark, Inc
- Christian Hunt, Partners in Child Development (PCD)
- Ryan Plosker, New England Academy
- Lori Steers, Nashoba Learning Group
- Lygia Soares, Alternate, Merrimac Heights Academy
Southeast Region
- Kathleen Lovenbury, Crystal Springs School
- Ivy Medeiros, Stevens Treatment Programs
- Maureen Philbin, Fall River Deaconess Home
- Gerry Pouliot, Latham Centers, Inc.
- Lawrence Sauer, League School of Greater Boston
- Debra Blair, Alternate, May Institute
Western Region
Western Region
Jill Brewer, Springdale Education Center
Robert Carter, Willie Ross School for the Deaf
Shaun Cusson, Hillcrest Educational Centers
Jodi Michalski, White Oak School
No Alternate
CENTRAL REGION
Central Region
Michael Ames, RFK Community Alliance
Karen Bishop, Learning Center for the Deaf
Brian Doyle, Center for Applied Behavioral Instruction (CABI)
Kerry Ann Goldsmith, Devereux
Karen McCarthy, Brandon School & Residential Treatment Center
Phill Ekberg, Alternate, Wayside Academy
BOSTON REGION
Boston Region
Ed Bosso, Perkins School for the Blind
Michael Culhane, Farr Academy
Sarah Folk, Milestones, Inc.
Wil Fredian, Gifford School
Bridget Irish, Cotting School
Laura Lajewski, COMPASS, Inc.
Amy Sousa, The Guild School
Mark Lucier, Alternate, Community Therapeutic Day School
David Zimmer, Alternate, Manville School/Judge Baker Children's Center
NORTHEAST REGION
Northeast Region
Joseph Cronin, St. Ann's Home
Rita Gardner, Melmark, Inc
Christian Hunt, Professional Center for Child Development (PCCD)
Ryan Plosker, New England Academy
Lori Steers, Nashoba Learning Group
Lygia Soares, Alternate, Merrimac Heights Academy
Southeast Region
Southeast Region
Kathleen Lovenbury, Crystal Springs School
Robert Lynch, Amego
Gerry Pouliot, Latham Centers, Inc.
Lawrence Sauer, League School of Greater Boston
Stephanie Ward, JRI
Ivy Medeiros, Stevens Treatment Programs
Deb Blair, Alternate, May Institute