March 13, 2024
STAFF SPOTLIGHT: Amanda Albanesi, MS, BCBA
Amanda Albanesi, MS, BCBA, began her career at The New England Center for Children (NECC) as an intern in 2019 and is now in her second year as a residential coordinator for NECC’s Westborough 2 residential team. She was nominated by her colleagues “for her dedication to our students and their success!” Another colleague shared that “Amanda is an amazing residential coordinator on West 2 who works fiercely to advocate for and educate our students. Amanda is known for her sense of humor and ability to take on any responsibility without hesitation. Amanda cares deeply about her team and the students she serves. She always goes above and beyond for her team to ensure its success.”
How long have you worked for NECC?
I have worked at NECC since 2019. I started as a full-time intern as a senior at Assumption University. During my time at NECC I have held the positions of back-up core shift manager (CSM), CSM, and I am currently in my second year as residential coordinator on West 2.
What is your favorite part of your job?
My favorite part of my job is watching the students’ progress over time. It is very rewarding to watch a student master an IEP objective or see an undesired behavior on a decreasing trend.
Why did you choose a career in helping children with autism?
Since I was in preschool, I have had a passion for working with individuals with disabilities. One of my first best friends in preschool had cerebral palsy, and one of my favorite parts of my day would be helping him eat lunch. Growing up, I participated in Unified Sports and Best Buddies. I have always wanted to be a special education teacher or work in the special education field in some capacity. When I started at NECC, I had little knowledge about applied behavior analysis (ABA), but after my internship, it solidified my career path of becoming a BCBA and working with students with autism.
During my senior year of college, I needed to complete a 400-hour internship. I told my internship coordinator that I wanted to work in the special education field and wanted to work in a school with just special needs students. I toured NECC and a smaller ABA clinic and immediately knew I belonged at NECC. I chose to stay at NECC after my internship because the students and staff were just the best. All my coworkers and supervisors were very supportive. My internship was nothing like any of the other internships my classmates had; it was very hands on, and no one even knew I was an intern, which I really liked. You also get very close with your coworkers; everyone always has each other’s back, which I feel is hard to find.
Have you taken advantage of any of the grad programs or teacher training at NECC? If so, how has it affected your teaching style?
I completed my graduate studies at Assumption University. Attending Assumption gave me a different perspective about ABA because I went to school with people who did not work at NECC, so I got to learn about different experiences people had in the ABA field. I feel like that experience has helped me become a more diverse clinician and diverse in the way I think about things.
What is something about you that your colleagues might be surprised to learn?
I minored in Spanish in College.
What is your life philosophy or motto you like to live by?
“Travel because money returns, time doesn’t.”