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 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
Amanda Kane
Susie Vanseth
MAAPS is an 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 reaching out 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.
If you are a parent or caregiver looking for family support or special education information and resources, please contact the Federation for Children with Special Needs.
Other inquiries, please visit the Connect page.
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
Regional Delegates
Western Region
Bert Carter, Wille Ross School for the Deaf
- Jill Brewer, Springdale Education Center
- Shaun Cusson, Hillcrest Educational Centers
- Jody Michalski, White Oak School
- No Alternate
Central Region
- Karen Bishop, Learning Center for the Deaf
- Brian Doyle, Center for Applied Behavioral Instruction
- Karen McCarthy, Brandon School & Residential
- Jessica Sassi, The New England Center for Children
- Alternate: Phillip Ekberg, Wayside Youth
Greater Boston Region
- Ed Bosso, Perkins School for the Blind
- Michael Culhane, Farr Academy
- Sarah Folk, Milestones
- Bridget Irish, Cotting School
- Laura Lajewski, COMPASS
- Mark Lucier, Community Therapeutic Day School
- Pam Sullivan, Walker
- Alternate: Amy Sousa, Guild School
- Alternate: Wil Fredian, Gifford School
Northeast Region
- Joe Cronin, St. Ann’s Home and School
- Rita Gardner, Melmark New England
- Chris Hunt, Professional Center for Child Development
- Ryan Plosker, New England Academy
- Lori Steers, Nashoba Learning Group
- Alternate: Lygia Soares, Merrimac Heights Academy
Southeast Region
- Kathleen Lovenbury, Crystal Springs
- Maureen Philbin, Fall River Deaconess Home
- Gerry Pouliot, Latham Centers
- Larry Sauer, League School for Autism
- Deb Blair, May Institute
- Alternate: Bisser Dokov, JRI
