Cotting School Annual Report 2019

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WE’RE NOT YOUR TYPICAL SCHOOL. AND THIS IS NOT YOUR TYPICAL VIEWBOOK. Our students and their families say that when they come to Cotting their lives change. change They find a place where educators take the time to understand their learning style and unique needs. They begin to understand what it means to find their strengths, access curriculum, learn in new ways, and make friends. They find a true sense of belonging belonging. Share in our excitement for Cotting School. If you have questions about the students we serve or our individualized curriculum approach, please call or schedule a visit at any time. We’d love to help you learn more about the continuum of services offered by Cotting. 781-862-7323 or www.cotting.org

A YEAR-ROUND CONTINUUM OF SERVICES Preschool Ages 3-6

Lower School Ages 6-11

Middle School Ages 11-14

Upper School Ages 14-18


Capstone Ages 18-22

HOPEhouse Ages 17-22

Cotting Consulting in public school districts

Special Interest Events


“Welcome to Cotting! ... a school that strives to be flexible by the minute, inventive and creative at all times, responsive to a student’s needs no matter what they may be.”

“Cotting’s mission is so compelling, so evident, so pervasive, so understood. The warmth of this dynamic community is immediately apparent.”

“For current parents, Cotting is a lifesaver for their child and their families because the culture assumes that each child has capabilities.”

After a year of self-study that engaged our entire community – students, parents, faculty, staff, trustees and school districts – NEASC re-accredited Cotting School this year. The extensive process of reflection provided validation of Cotting School’s mission as well as a strategic road map for the future of our school. Since 1893 Cotting has exemplified innovation. Here everyone counts and experiences a sense of belonging. belonging We’ve stayed true to our mission yet evolved to meet the changing needs of our students. Each year our highly specialized program design supports positive outcomes in the following areas:

“YOU CAN ONLY IMAGINE HOW GRATIFIED WE WERE TO READ “Cotting School has developed a model of integrated services (or comprehensive programming). The beneficiaries are the students.” 4 | COTTING SCHOOL

THESE COMMENTS FROM THE NEW ENGLAND ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES (NEASC) VISITING COMMITTEE!”


A commitment to student safety and engagement. At Cotting, community and collaboration work hand-in-hand to support our students - observe a Communication Therapist working with a group of students on social skills, sit at an instructional lunch with young adults at HOPEhouse or cheer the Cotting Falcons at a Friday night basketball game. Academic excellence and a tailored curriculum serve students at every level. Here content is made accessible and teachers pay exceptional attention to detail. Parents, students, teachers and therapists identify goals and then shape pathways to academic, therapeutic and vocational success. High parent/guardian satisfaction. In response to a recent parent survey from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, parents surveyed indicated the highest level of satisfaction. For example, our literacy program grade was 100%!

Preparing students and their families for transition at every age. From cross-departmental meetings and IEP meetings involving students, staff teams, and parents, to our annual transition fair, we remain focused on planning with each student for what comes next. Did you know our Project Bridges Program provides 100 trips per week to community work internships for our students? Cotting’s forward-thinking vision is rooted in partnerships. With our exceptional staff, employer partners, and the many dedicated donors, volunteers, and supporters like you, who help us achieve our mission, we constantly expand our reach. We could not support our students without your continued collaboration. Thank you!

David C. Cushing, Chair, Board of Trustees

David W. Manzo, President

Please visit www.cotting.org to read the full report from NEASC as well as our approval from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

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WELCOME TO COTTING A COMMUNITY OF LEARNERS

Step into the halls of Cotting School and you’ll see it everywhere - in classrooms, meetings, the dining room, the medical department. Differentiated programming and curricula set Cotting School apart and provide students with opportunities to learn and apply their skills. Through careful curriculum design and support from Cotting’s own Instructional Leadership Team (ILT), as well as input from Therapists and Specialists, our teaching teams adapt lessons in order to break down barriers to learning and make content relevant for our students. I welcome you to observe examples of our curriculum in action through an in-person visit or by reading the features highlighted in this report.

Krista Macari Chief Academic Officer

MATH In a Capstone Classroom (ages 1822), students focus on budgeting and money management skills. The essential questions they are trying to answer are “how much money do I need to cover my shopping trip” and “which bills (using next dollar up) will cover my budget?” The students begin by estimating how much each item on their shopping will cost and how much they estimate their total budget to be.

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SCIENCE Then they use a grocery store flyer to look up the actual prices of each item and make an actual budget. Finally, they explain whether each estimate is reasonable or not reasonable, and why. The assignment ends with students rounding their actual budgets to the next dollar up and deciphering which bills to bring with them to the store to cover their items.

A Middle School Science class (ages 11-14) focuses on a biology unit. After documenting the decomposition of a piece of paper in a small composter, students are tasked to answer the question, "what factors make a composter work faster or slower?" Students then design their own composters to test various factors such as temperature, airflow, soil type,


LITERACY or light level. Every week students unpack their composters, observe their papers, document any changes in a laboratory notebook, and rebury the paper. The assignment ends with students comparing results across Middle School classrooms to determine which composters function the best, and begin discussing decomposers.

In an Upper School Classroom (ages 14-18), students access real world stories through current events and fiction stories. They learn about and discuss large concepts, make connections to their communities, and develop action plans around what to do with the information they have. In the fiction book they are reading, they discuss how pollution can have an effect on the environment, the concept

of civil disobedience in history, and how someone in power can impact a society. Through current events, they think about and discuss things that may or may not be happening in their own communities. Examples include working with people who look or identify differently, asking questions about people in a respectful way, and building context for the world in which they live—in order to be global citizens.

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(Sofia pictured left, Savina pictured right)

“My students are the best people I know...we laugh, we cry, we struggle, we triumph, we teach and learn from each other every day. They continually expand my horizons and I can’t imagine navigating this life without them. It’s what makes us a community and not just teachers and students in a school.” – LOLA PISCOPO, LEAD TEACHER

“Sofia’s favorite thing about Cotting School is Savina. Having a classmate and friend whose disability presents similarly to hers and seeing herself reflected in another child is so important. Sofia previously didn’t have any classmates who were (visibly) disabled, and I really believe in the power of seeing yourself reflected in your peers.” – NINA JOBIM, SOFIA’S MOTHER (SOFIA PICTURED LEFT)

WHAT COTTING SCHOOL MEANS TO ME...

(Alex, pictured.)

“Alex came to Cotting and joined my class mid-way through the school year. I’ve been happy and grateful to have such a wonderful, caring, and hard-working student in class with my seven other students. We work together as a class community and we’ve all gotten to know one another well. Alex brings a special presence to the classroom. His compassion for his classmates and teachers, as well as his sense of humor, make him stand out in the Cotting community.” – MYCHAELA KELLY, ALEX’S TEACHER

“I was introduced to Cotting when my oldest daughter started attending the school over a decade ago. From the time I walked in until today I’m amazed at the passion every person associated with the school has for making a difference in the lives of children and young adults, helping them achieve their potential. Every aspect of growth is considered, from educational development to physical achievement to social maturity and expansion. Cotting is a shining example of no child being left behind, moving it from words to action.” – JOHN DRAKE, TRUSTEE AND PARENT

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Profiles When students’ educational needs are being met, when they feel respected and they are engaged in meaningful and challenging activities, the rewards are long-lasting and priceless. They are in a place where everyone counts. They experience a sense of belonging.

On the next few pages, meet ALLIE, JOE, MS. MAIMONE, & JAYDEN to learn more.

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“As parents we’re appreciative that Allie is in a school setting where her teachers have the tools and the resources to meet Allie’s needs without us being the drivers behind them. Everyone on Allie’s team at Cotting is a step ahead of our thinking about what is best for Allie and her next steps toward young adulthood.” “It’s been a transformative feeling for our whole family to be a part of the Cotting School community. We see other kids, their siblings and family members who have a lot in common with us and we see them in every setting: school activities, sports, and other special events. It’s a great community!” – JULI KLEMM AND MIKE BRODSKY, ALLIE’S MOTHER AND FATHER

ALLIE

Lively, funny, and passionate are just a few words that describe Allie. In just three years since arriving at Cotting at age 11, Allie has made remarkable strides towards her IEP goals. Most significantly, Allie’s progress in the area of literacy has been exceptional. She’s jumped three grade levels in her years at Cotting which has Allie, her parents, and her team at school revising her educational goals to include achieving her high school diploma through preparation for MCAS testing.

Favorite clubs and/or activities: Tech Club

Allie’s Schedule Snapshot

Favorite Cotting menu option: Pizza

8:30-9:00

Occupational Therapy

Favorite class or subject: Math

9:00-9:30

English Language Arts

Dream Job: To work at the NYC American Girl Store

9:30-10:00

Math

10:00-10:30

Literacy

10:30-11:00

Physical Therapy

11:00-12:00

Adapted Physical Education

12:00-12:30

LUNCH

12:30-2:50

Community Inclusion

Favorite spot on Cotting School campus:

My Classroom, Room 217

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Profiles JOE

At HOPEhouse, Joe says he feels as if he is living in a dorm, like his older brother did at college. HOPEhouse is a 5-day (Monday through Friday) boarding program for young adults ages 17-22, with an IEP, who want to practice independent living skills in a supportive community setting. The program design at HOPEhouse helps young adults generalize skills, as well as maintain and develop ties with their home communities on the weekends.

Joe’s Schedule Snapshot 8:00-8:30

Rise & Shine/ Organizational Skills

8:30-9:30

Functional Math

9:30-10:30

Physical Therapy

10:30-11:30

Industrial Arts

11:30-1:00

Instructional Lunch

1:00-2:00

Self-Determination

2:00-3:00

Activity Board

3:00-4:00

Fitness/Enrichment/ Daily Checklists

4:00-6:00

Dinner Prep/Dinner/ Clean Up

6:00-7:00

House Meeting

7:00-8:00

Personal Choice

Favorite spot on Cotting School campus: The Gym

“The HOPEhouse staff is teaching our son, Joe, those transition skills he will need to be more independent as he gets older, such as work experience, cooking, laundry, and how to budget and manage his money. It gives us peace of mind as his parents to know he is in a safe environment as he learns these new skills.” – ANNMARIE AND STEVEN SCARLATA, JOE’S MOTHER AND FATHER

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“Middle School students at Cotting refuse to give up, even when school has been anything but easy. Seeing my students work hard, make friends, achieve an IEP goal, and become excited about learning fuels me as a Middle School teacher.” – MELISSA MAIMONE, MIDDLE SCHOOL TEACHER

MS. MAIMONE

Having worked in almost every role there is to fill at Cotting School, Ms. Maimone has been a program assistant, student teacher, student services assistant, member of the vocational department and a summer school teacher. Being a lead teacher in a classroom of eight Middle School students is by far her favorite! Why? Because she loves working with students ages 11-14. The design for teaching and learning at Cotting offers support to middle schoolers to ease their stresses. Our team manages schedules together, while offering curricula and therapies that are highly individualized to meet the needs of each student. Favorite Cotting menu option: Pizza and roasted sweet potatoes Favorite class or subject: Literacy Dream Job: Teacher

Dream achieved

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!!

Favorite spot on Cotting School campus: The front lobby. It is so inviting! Especially when it is full of students in the morning.


Profiles JAYDEN Jayden’s Schedule Snapshot 8:30-9:00

Organizational Skills

9:00-9:30

Communication Group

9:30-10:30

Art

10:30-11:00

Literacy

11:00-12:00

Math

12:00-12:30

LUNCH

12:30-1:00

English Language Arts

1:00-1:30

Activity Block

1:30-2:00

Adapted Physical Education

2:00-2:50

Math

Favorite spot on Cotting School campus: Being outside on the turf field

Favorite clubs and/or activities: Bowling and playing Uno during “Circle of Friends” club. Favorite Cotting menu option: Chicken Noodle Soup

“Jayden is incredibly positive, motivated, and hard-working. In his weekly Communication Therapy sessions we focus on strengthening his communication skills for self-advocacy, sharing his opinions, asking questions he has about lessons, and honing communication strategies to help him create lifelong social connections with his peers. Jayden doesn’t give up when something is challenging for him - he persists until he is able to do it!”

Favorite class or subject: Science with Mr. Lindblad Dream Job: To drive a big truck and make deliveries

– KATHERINE SIMMONS, COMMUNICATION THERAPIST

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EMPOWERING STUDENTS AS WORKERS Project Bridges is Cotting School’s community-based volunteer work experience program. Our students work with local employers to develop their vocational and transitional skills. This program also builds and sustains connections between our school and the surrounding community, so that our students are empowered to view themselves as workers and as vital members of the greater community outside of their home and school. For many students, it’s the highlight of their week.

“I can’t say enough about the hard-working students and the wonderful job coaches from Cotting School. They have taught us so much about the disability community.” – PROJECT BRIDGES EMPLOYER PARTNER

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Partnerships with

43 off campus job sites for nearly 70 student work internship placements.


PARTNER EMPLOYERS Acton Animal Hospital (2017) Artis Memory Care (2019) Bentley University (2019) Bina Farm (2019) Cambridge Public Library, O’Neill Branch (2003) Challenge Unlimited/Ironstone Farm (2018) Discovery Museum (2014) Dog Nanny (2019) Donelan’s Supermarkets (2015) Drumlin Farm Wildlife Center and Pre-School (2011) Empow Studios (2017) Epicurean Feast (2007) Hallie’s Flower Garden Hayden Recreation Center (2019) Lahey Outpatient Clinic (2001) Lexington Community Center (2017) Lexington Field and Garden Club (2019) Lexington Montessori School (2016) Lexmedia (2018) Lincoln Garden Club (2019) Lincoln Public Library (2012)

Little Fox Resale Shop (2017) Lovelane Special Needs Horseback Riding Center (2018) Magic Garden Children’s Center (2004) Mahoney’s Garden Center (1995) Meadowbrook School Library (2018) Physical Therapy Associates of Concord (2016) Radio Perkins (2014) Sancta Maria Nursing Facility (2008) Stone Meadow Golf Club (2019) Takeda Pharmaceuticals (2014) Takeda/Guckenheimer Food Service (2018) Takeda/Exos Fitness Center (2018) Thermo Fisher (2019) TJ Maxx (1994) Upper Crust Pizza (2018) Wagon Wheel Waltham Crossings Nursing Home (2008) Waltham Police Department (2006) Waltham YMCA (2011) Watertown Public Library (2019) Winn St. Laundry (2018)

(The year that the partnership began is noted in parenthesis.)

"Going to work is the best part of my week!" – TORI, UPPER SCHOOL STUDENT

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COUNTING THE COMMUNITIES THAT COTTING SCHOOL SERVES Abington Acton/ Boxborough Andover Arlington Avon Ayer/Shirley Bedford Belmont Beverly Billerica Blackstone Boston Bow, NH Braintree Brookline Burlington

Cambridge Canton Carlisle Chelmsford Concord Danvers Dedham Everett Framingham Hamilton/Wenham Hopedale Hopkinton Ipswich King Philip Reg. Lexington Lincoln/Sudbury Lowell

Lynn Lynnfield Manchester/Essex Marshfield Masconomet Merrimack, NH Methuen Milford Natick Needham Newton N. Andover Northbridge N. Reading Peabody Quincy Reading

Salem, MA Salem, NH Somerville Sudbury Swampscott Tewksbury Walpole Waltham Watertown Wellesley Westford Weston Westwood Wilmington Woburn

Cotting's Day School proudly serves students from 66 cities and towns in Massachusetts and Southern New Hampshire.

COTTING IS WHERE ABBY BELONGS “Abby gets picked up at home to leave for school at 6:15 am and gets home between 4:30 pm and 5:00 pm, more often closer to 5:00 pm and occasionally later than that. Wednesday afternoons she is home by 2:30 pm. That being said, it is completely worth the travel for Abby. In just a few months Cotting has changed Abby’s life. Abby is a new person, actually participating in her education! She is making friends, has joined the cheer team, and has plans to attend birthday parties for multiple friends. Abby does not complain about the ride to and from school, because she really likes Cotting. She brings her iPad on the van rides and FaceTimes her grandmothers and reads Instagram.” – SUE FOSS, ABBY’S MOTHER

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EVERYONE COUNTS IN AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS, SPORTS, FAMILY, AND ALUMNI EVENTS Cotting does more than provide highly specialized academics and therapeutic services to support students, alumni and their families. Cotting focuses on the whole child and designs a continuum of educational, therapeutic, and support services to ensure that the students and their families become part of a “comprehensive classroom� within extended learning opportunities. After school Cotting students explore new hobbies and forms of self-expression by choosing from a huge selection of options such as:

Art Basketball Best Buddies Board Games & Puzzles Challenger Little League Baseball Cheerleading Chess Club Chorus Circle of Friends

Dance Club Dances Drama Club Golf Horseback Riding Stables iPad Club Jewelry making Miniature Golf Photography

Prom Senior trip Soccer Special Olympics Track and Field Teambuilding Tennis Workout Club

Once A Falcon Always a Falcon ALUMNI EVENTS AND BELONGING It gives us great pleasure to serve the Cotting Alumni Community in several ways, from welcoming alumni back to Cotting with a variety of special events, or providing alumni updates through the LinkUs Alumni Newsletter and Alumni Facebook groups.

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PARENTS COUNT

Cotting School parents offer their experience, ideas, expertise, and time to support our learning community in countless ways throughout the year. We also thank those parents who volunteer to participate in the Cotting PTO, the Parent Advisory Council, the PAC Transition Committee and the Government Affairs Committee.

MEDICAL AND SENIOR ADVISORS

AFFILIATIONS AND MEMBERSHIPS

John Beach Julie Bickel, M.D. Walter M. Cabot Nancy Carlson, O.D. John Emans, M.D. Andrew Feinberg, Esq. Laurie Glader, M.D. Paul Goodof Susan M. Halby Elizabeth Harstad, M.D. Richard Hay Bayard Henry Lynda G. Kabbash, M.D. D. Harry C. Webster, M.D.

AccesSport America

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Affiliate member, Association of Independent Schools of New England Best Buddies of Massachusetts Boston College Boston Medical Center Boston University’s Sargent College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences Boston University’s Wheelock College of Education and Human Development

Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology Massachusetts Special Olympics National Association of Private Schools for Exceptional Children New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) New England Healing Sports Association (NEHSA) New England College of Optometry

Children’s League of Massachusetts

Northeastern University’s Bouvé College of Health Sciences

Emerson College Clinical Training Program

Regis College Salem State College

Massachusetts Association of 766-Approved Private Schools

Tufts University School of Dental Medicine

Massachusetts Council of Human Service Providers

Waypoint Adventure

Children’s Hospital Boston


COTTING CONSULTING Cotting Consulting is an Outreach Program of Cotting School providing solutions for students and professionals in their school environments across the state of Massachusetts by offering the following services: Student evaluations: Assistive Technology, AAC, Communication and Occupational Therapy Professional Development for general and special educators Direct student instruction

Program consultation Individual case consultation Equipment rental Embedded staff services Program evaluation

Cotting Consulting in 2019:

5 Consultants In 27 School Districts Serving 94 students

Cotting Consultants currently serve students and professionals in the following districts:

Cotting Consultants have served students in

40 Districts, Charter Schools, and Collaboratives from 2017 to 2019

Acton Public Schools Acton-Boxborough Public Schools Assabet Valley Regional Carlisle Public Schools Dover-Sherborn Public Schools Foxborough Public Schools Franklin Public Schools Haverhill Public Schools Holliston Public Schools Hopeful Journeys Lawrence Public Schools Lowell Community Charter Mansfield Public Schools

Marlborough Public Schools Melrose Public Schools Milford Public School Needham Public Schools North Middlesex Regional Quabbin Regional School District Saugus Public Schools Shrewsbury Public Schools Sudbury Public Schools Tewksbury Public Schools Wakefield Public Schools Walpole Public Schools Wayland Public Schools

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BOARD OF TRUSTEES Cotting School is led by an enthusiastic and active Board of Trustees comprised of interesting individuals, each with unique passions, pursuits, and stories to share. What unites our trustees is their interest in educating the whole child and their deep caring, compassion, and commitment to learning as a lifelong

OFFICERS

David Cushing, CFA, Chair Braintree, MA (retired) Alexander Thorndike, Treasurer Congress Asset Management

journey. They share their insights and expertise to help advance our mission. Their perspective, influence and networks are foundational strengths, which are critical to enabling our ability to serve our students.

John F. Drake Managing Director, Accenture Michael Durkin, CEO, United Way of MA Bay and Merrimack Valley

TRUSTEES EMERITI Charles T. Haydock, CFA Treasurer Emeritus; Welch & Forbes (retired)

Richard E. Keeley Dean, Boston College Carroll School of Management (retired)

Raymond L. Killian, Jr. Chairman Emeritus Investment Technology Group, Inc. (retired)

Katherine Martien-Sullivan, M.D. Director, TRANSCEND, MGH

David S. Lee Senior Vice Chairman; (retired)

Lori Campana, CFA, Partner Monument Group

Makeeba McCreary, Ph.D. Chief of Learning and Community Engagement, Museum of Fine Arts

Anne P. Ogilby, Esq. Chairman Emerita; Ropes & Gray

Henry W. Clark, Esq. Brown-Smith

Charles S. Morrison II Fidelity Investments (retired)

Timothy J. Connelly Brown Brothers Harriman (retired)

Stuart A. Randle Ivenix (retired)

Patrick B. Downes, PsyD. Home Base/MGH

Joan I. Thorndike Brookline, MA

David W. Manzo, M. Ed., President Cotting School D. Eliot Klein, Vice President TD Bank

TRUSTEES

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John L. Thorndike Treasurer Emeritus; Fiduciary Trust Company (retired)


REMEMBERING ELISE “BUTCH” WALLACE Elise “Butch” Wallace’s death leaves a great void in our collective hearts. She was introduced to Cotting nearly 50 years ago by her aunt. First a volunteer in our 1st grade classroom, she soon joined the school’s Advisory Board. In 1990 she joined our Board of Trustees and became a Trustee Emerita in 2005.

you encounter these children who have so much to offer. The student I worked with gave far more to me than I gave to him. It's the incredible caring which the teachers show and the kids' responses which make it different. When you walk in here, you can sense the love.”

In a 2008 interview Butch said, “I think Cotting is the most wonderful place. Everyone has a smile, and it's a very happy place. It makes you feel good when

Butch was generous to the school in ways too numerous to mention. We have had no greater friend or ambassador.

TREASURER’S REPORT I am constantly reminded how exceptional and unique are the Cotting faculty, staff and curricula. Every day, our students enjoy student-centered and collaborative learning programming, with deep roots that reach back to the school’s founding in 1893. On behalf of the Board of Trustees, please accept my sincere gratitude for supporting Cotting School last year. Thank you for your continued confidence in our mission. As Treasurer, I recognize the important work that our faculty and staff do every day to support the growth and development of our students. I see how critical your support is to helping Cotting School carry out and enhance its mission.

Each year we carefully review our financial resources in an effort to grow and support our programs and services with an eye toward sustainability. In FY2019 we budgeted carefully and planned not only for program development and day-to-day operations that enable our students to flourish, but also for the longer term needs of Cotting School. Your generosity supports our mission in tremendous ways and impacts the lives and minds of all our students. Thank you for giving back to Cotting School. We are immensely grateful for your continued support.

Alexander L. Thorndike Treasurer Board of Trustees

EVERY DONATION COUNTS FINANCIALS

Fundraising 30%

Tuition dollars alone do not cover the cost of a Cotting education.

Other Income Tuition

30% of program costs are covered by endowment support, annual fund, and restricted gifts.

3%

67%

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It was the best day I’ve ever spent at a school! - ALNYLAM VOLUNTEER

VOLUNTEERS AND DONORS COUNT We are happy to have you on our team! We are fortunate to have so many wonderful people supporting our students and our mission. Our work counts on the efforts of many generous donors, partners and individuals. Among those are incredibly important volunteers who also take our mission to heart. Volunteer Scientists from Alnylam Pharmaceuticals taught Cotting School how to extract DNA from a strawberry while other Alnylam volunteers helped with Cotting School campus facilities work as a part of their corporate day of community service!

Partners from Prime Buchholz and nearly twenty other corporations, joined us in our annual trivia night fundraiser to support Cotting School. Join us in our mission to enable students with special needs to achieve their highest learning potential and level of independence. Contact us regarding upcoming partnership and volunteer opportunities.

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FACULTY AND STAFF Senior Administrative Team Ann Buckley, M.Ed. Curriculum Specialist; Director, Middle School Sejal Costa, M.Ed. Director of Post-Secondary Pathways Bridget Irish, M.B.A., S.P.H.R. Chief Operating Officer Krista Macari, M.S., CCC-SLP Chief Academic Officer David W. Manzo, M.Ed. President/Executive Director Michael Pembroke, M.B.A. Chief Financial Officer Elizabeth Campbell Peters, M.A. Director of Advancement Elizabeth Fay Russell, M.A., C.A.G.S. Director of Admissions Leah Thibodeau, M.Ed., C.A.G.S. Special Education Coordinator Pamela Varrin, Ph.D. Family Support Coordinator

Business, Administration and Advancement Offices Jeanine Bergeron, B.S. Staff Accountant Lindsay Casavant, B.A. Outreach Director Paul Chiozzi, M.A., M.B.A. Director of Annual Giving Kim Choi, B.S. Senior Accountant Ann DubĂŠ, A.S. Executive Assistant Abigail Farquharson, B.A. Outreach and Events Coordinator Althea Ioakimidis, B.A., P.H.R. Human Resources Manager Julia Pazniokas, B.A. Front Desk Coordinator Keysha Powell Special Education Office Assistant Omni Raimo, B.S. Advancement and Outreach Coordinator Rachael Sciola, B.A. Office of Student Services Coordinator

Faculty Elizabeth Abel, M.Ed. Classroom Teacher Amanda Arnst, M.Ed. Classroom Teacher Ruth J. Berg, M.Ed. Remedial Specialist Paulette Binder, B.A. Pre-Vocational Instructor Erika Cain, B.A. Classroom Teacher Hannah Cruz, B.S. Classroom Teacher Alada Caughey, M.Ed. Classroom Teacher Daniel J. Cuddy, B.S. Adaptive Physical Education Instructor; Director, Student Activities Mary Curtin, M.Ed. Remedial Specialist Eleanor Coffin, M.Ed. Classroom Teacher Sarah Hassett, B.S. Cotting Fellow; Classroom Teacher Megan Hennessey, M.Ed. Classroom Teacher

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Bill Ironfield, B.A. Performing Arts Instructor Mychaela Kelly, B.A., Cotting Fellow; Classroom Teacher Andrew Lindblad, M.Ed. Science Teacher Melissa Maimone, B.A. Classroom Teacher Adrienne Manson, M.Ed. HOPEhouse Teacher (H) Catherine Mayo, M.Ed. Classroom Teacher Jeanine Meredith, M.Ed. Cotting Fellow; Classroom Teacher John Meredith, M.Ed. Classroom Teacher Abigail Mingle, M.Ed. Vocational Teacher Robert Mitropoulos, M.Ed. Classroom Teacher George Moran, M.Ed. Pre-Vocational Services, Senior Class Advisor Katherine Norregaard, M.Ed. Classroom Teacher Megan Paull, M.Ed. Classroom Teacher William Phelan, M.Ed. Industrial Arts Instructor Lauren Piscopo, M.Ed. Classroom Teacher Michelle Russell, B.S. Classroom Teacher Lynn Stoller, M.S., OTR/L Occupational Therapist/Pre-Vocational Services Julianne Sullivan, B.A. Cotting Fellow, Classroom Teacher James R. Tanner, B.A. Director of Pre-Vocational Services Michael Teuber, M.Ed. Director of Transition Services Zรถe C. Thibodeau Program Director, HOPEhouse (H) Rosanne E. Trolan, B.F.A. Fine Arts Teacher Kathryn VanSteenbergen, B.S. Portfolio & Assessment Coordinator

Occupational and Physical Therapy Virginia M. Birmingham, M.A., P.T., ATP Charles H. Taylor Chair of Physical Therapy Amy Houghton, B.S., OTR/L,C/NTD, ATP Occupational Therapy Team Leader; Feeding Team Leader; Assistive Technology Michela Bodinaku, PT, DPT Physical Therapist Kellan Carrig, PT, DPT, C/NTD Physical Therapist (H) Barbara DeLuca, M.S., P.T., M.Ed., ATP Physical Therapist Cynthia Furbish, B.S., P.T. Physical Therapist Audra Hamilton, M.S., OTR/L, ATP Occupational Therapist; Feeding Team Ann Hodson, B.S., OTR/L, RYT Occupational Therapist Greta Mangini, M.S., OTR/L Occupational Therapist Holly McGovern B.S., OTR/L Occupational Therapist Deidra Rooney, MPT, DPT Physical Therapist Kelly Rozowsky, M.S., OTR/L Occupational Therapist (H) Beth Singer, B.S., OTR/L Occupational Therapist Communication Therapy Stephanie Soule, M.S., CCC-SLP, ATP William O. Taylor Chair of Communication Therapy (H) Jillian Landry, M.S., CCC-SLP Communication Therapist Caitrin Plante, M.S., CCC-SLP Communication Therapist Jane Perera, M.S., CCC-SLP, ATP Communication Therapist Christine Rivera, M.S., CCC-SLP Communication Therapist Katherine Simmons, M.S., CCC-SLP, ATP Communication Therapist

Medical and Other Clinical Support Services Michele Passanisi, R.N. Director of Nursing (H) Amy Romano, R.N. Associate Medical Team Leader Maria DeMeo, R.N Cheryl Donnellan, R.N. Valerie Grams, R.N. Elizabeth Harstad, M.D. Medical Director Maria Kritsineli, D.M.D. Director of Tufts Dental Clinic Jessica Marcassoli, R.N. Courtney Martinello, C.N.A. (H) Margaret McGowen, R.N. Helene Pinches, M.D. Medical Fellow Alina Puma, R.N. Kathleen Tyrer, M.Ed., LMHC, LMFT, LRC Guidance/Therapist (H) Rachel Vorkink, M.A., C.A.G.S., NCSP Psychologist/Therapist Jenna Wilson, R.N. Cotting Consulting Karen M. Waddill, M.A., CCC-SLP, ATP Director, Cotting Consulting Allison Conelias, M.Ed. Consulting Educator Leila Denna, M.S., CCC-SLP Consulting Therapist Melissa Mulvey, M.S., CCC-SLP, ATP, CAGS Sr. Consulting Therapist Timothy Richmond, M.S., OTR/L Consulting Therapist & Outreach Coordinator Alicia Zeh-Dean, M.S., OTR/L Consulting Therapist Technology Center Patricia V. Salmonson, B.S., ATP Director of Technology Robbie Giroux, BSIT, ACMT IT Systems Engineer Shannon Kerr, M.S., CCC-SLP, ATP Assistive Technology Specialist

(H) = HOPEhouse Staff 24 | COTTING SCHOOL


Program Assistants and Job Coaches Marcie Garon Team Leader Seth Adelmann, B.A. Susan Atkins, M.Ed. Erin Cadwallader, B.S. Nicole Chaput, B.A. Brook Cole Susan Cunningham (H) William DeAngelis, M.Ed. Michael Dunne, B.A. (H) Meghan Eastman Julie Eaton Jessica Garceau, C.N.A. (H) Caitlin Gibbons, B.S. Nicole Girard, B.S. Pia Haapanen-Banzy, B.A. Leia Herlihy, B.A. Jennifer Hodgdon, B.A. Lucy Johnson, B.A. (H) Kathleen Kelly, A.A. (H) Courtney Kendall, B.S. David Largenton, B.A. Michaela LeBlanc, B.A. Johanna Lewis, B.A. Vanessa Medeiros Kevin Mahoney Eliza Mercado, B.A. Aarika Newell Maura O’Brien, B.S. Alison Paradis, B.S. Judith Pollins Maggie Raemer, B.A. Edward Reed Alysha Robinson, B.A. Stan Rogers (H) Mary-Kate Rooney, B.A. Eileen Roper Jennifer Sabia-Lopez, B.A. Alpona Saha Connie Sousa Samia Stetson, B.A. Brendan Stock Emmanuel Tazifor, A.S. Jennifer Whalen, B.A. (H)

Food Services Fatima Sousa Director of Food Service Maria Bizarria Courtney Constantino Maria Gonçalves Liz Medeiros Physical Plant and Maintenance David Peduto, B.S. Director of Facilities John Fallon David McHardy Charles Sirois B.S

2019 ANNUAL REPORT | 25


AT COTTING WE COUNT...

9

Cotting Falcons Basketball games in one winter season

15 27

Number of public school districts served by Cotting Consulting clinicians indistrict visits

26 | COTTING SCHOOL

Beautiful acres of school campus with miles of outdoor trails

7

Nurses in our medical department

140

Cotting-owned iPads deployed throughout the school

40

Off campus job sites for student work internship placements


109

Average of miles driven weekly by staff in Cotting vans supporting students in off-campus work

17

1

Therapy balls in the OT/PT department

7

Beds made each morning by young adults boarding at HOPEhouse

The number of staff team wins over 5 years in students vs. staff basketball games

21

698

Pots of coffee brewed each week for Cotting staff

The number of generous individuals who donated to Cotting’s annual fund in 2019

The thousands of ways we are different from one another, yet supportive in working together as a school community. 2019 ANNUAL REPORT | 27


COTTING SCHOOL 453 Concord Ave, Lexington, MA 02421 | (781) 862-7323 | www.cotting.org 28 | COTTING SCHOOL


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