A career in education isn’t always a straight path. Sometimes, it can take unexpected turns, leading to opportunities that change everything. For Koshila Ratnayake, that journey took her from feeling stuck in her career to discovering a passion she never saw coming—all the way in Abu Dhabi.
Alice Pauly, a lead teacher in one of The New England Center for Children’s (NECC) Public School Services (PSS) Partner Program classrooms in Derry, NH, has worked at NECC for nine years. She was nominated for Staff Spotlight because “Alice is an amazing teacher to our students.”
Olivia Pandola, a teacher in The New England Center for Children’s (NECC) Intensive Instruction Program (IIP), has worked at NECC for two years. She was nominated for Staff Spotlight because she is “such a great teacher and coworker” and “a pleasure to work with.”
When the NBA Champion Boston Celtics visited Abu Dhabi in early October to play a pair of pre-season games as part of the league’s NBA in Abu Dhabi initiative, students from NECC’s Global Consulting program were invited to take part in the festivities.
Shaylin Nutile, a teacher at NECC’s Downey Center for Child Development, was nominated for Staff Spotlight by a parent whose son has thrived under her care, thanks to her “passion, patience, and natural talent working with kids.”
In early December, The New England Center for Children’s (NECC) Clinic in Dubai celebrated five years of providing session-based applied behavior analysis (ABA), speech and language therapy (SLT), and occupational therapy (OT) services to individuals of determination.
Dana Jaffe, a level 2 teacher on NECC’s IIP, was nominated for Staff Spotlight because “she continuously brings a positive and calm energy to the team. She is a great advocate for not only her case students but also every student on the team.”
Kelly Hilcoff, MSEd, BCBA, LABA, a consulting specialist in NECC’s Public School Services department, has worked at NECC for 23 years. She was nominated because she “goes above and beyond to cater to staff needs and always does so with a smile on her face.”
NECC reflects on an extraordinary year of accomplishments and plans to celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2025. This year has been marked by groundbreaking achievements, expanded global reach, and an unwavering commitment to transforming the lives of children with autism.