91香蕉视频成人在线

Making record time was entirely in character for Katherine O鈥橲hea, 2022 graduate of the Master of Arts in Applied Behavior Analysis program, when it came to pursuing graduate school and finding her way to 91香蕉视频成人在线. 鈥淏ased on my undergraduate student teaching experience, in a rural school in Pennsylvania with few resources, I saw the need for educators with behavioral training and skills,鈥� says O鈥橲hea who attended Bucknell University on a Division I swimming scholarship. While there, the Bolton native and four-time Boston Globe All-Scholastic Athlete from Concord-Carlisle High School was a member of the record-holding (1:33:36) 200 freestyle team. On Monday, April 15, the former college athlete turned kindergarten teacher will lace up her sneakers and don the 91香蕉视频成人在线 bib for the 128th Boston Marathon鈥攄etermined to pound all 26.2 miles of pavement (including Heartbreak Hill, in Newton), to raise money for the School Psychology program. 

鈥淚t was very challenging,鈥� recalls O鈥橲hea of her stint at an elementary school serving central Pennsylvania鈥檚 farming community, citing an abundance of students with behavioral issues and few in-school supports to speak of. 鈥淭he kids were really struggling鈥�and the teachers were not being educated about behavior as a form of communication,鈥� says O鈥橲hea who used this difficult experience to further her own education鈥攏amely, learning how becoming a Board Certified Behavior Analyst would position her to help a diverse range of students gain access to the curriculum. 

鈥淭here are so many kids missing out on the education they deserve because there are not enough behavioral supports in the general classroom setting鈥攅specially among hyperactive boys and those on the autism spectrum who, with the proper support, can access the classroom, perform on grade level, and benefit from improved social interactions,鈥� says O鈥橲hea who, after graduating with a degree in early childhood education and passing the teacher鈥檚 exam, enrolled in the Applied Behavior Analysis program at William James College. 

鈥淚t was clear [the program emphasized] using data to make informed decisions鈥攚hich is why I wanted to pursue behavior analysis鈥攁nd Dr. Lee was really educated and passionate about the field,鈥� says O鈥橲hea of her interview with Ronald Lee, PhD, LABA, BCBA-D, Director, MA in Applied Behavior Analysis which ultimately sealed the deal for O鈥橲hea, whose final semester was her favorite.

鈥淚 did my final research project on behavioral interventions for hyperactivity in the classroom, which was hard because there is not a lot of [material referencing] classroom teachers using behavioral analysis,鈥� says O鈥橲hea of a topic that鈥檚 become largely separate as a field. Lengthy discussions with Lee, about this very fact led O鈥橲hea to reach the conclusion: 鈥淚f classroom teachers and behavior analysts collaborated鈥攖o make information and in-school trainings more accessible鈥� more kids could access the general classroom setting,鈥� she says of how implementing behavioral interventions as a first line of approach could make a world of difference for those students in need of support.

鈥淲hile the general population in public schools is changing, many teacher trainings are not,鈥� says O鈥橲hea of a topic she not only explored at length in her studies but also employed during job interviews鈥攍ike one in particular, in the Westford Public Schools, where she currently teaches kindergarten. 

鈥淢y degree from 91香蕉视频成人在线 has allowed me to make a world of difference in the lives of young children,鈥� says O鈥橲hea whose combination of skills provides the opportunity for special needs students to be seamlessly included in the general classroom using behavioral interventions and inclusion tools to help kids access the curriculum without resorting to a substantially separate setting. 

When she鈥檚 not teaching, coaching the local high school swim team, or studying for her boards (slated for late March), O鈥橲hea is busy training for race day鈥攚hich, as it turns out, will not be her first. 鈥淪wimming was not that accessible after college,鈥� says the life-long swimmer who took up running to stay in shape. Following in her mother鈥檚 footsteps (who donned a bib in 2006 and 2008), O鈥橲hea ran her first Boston Marathon in 2021鈥攔aising funds for Boston Children鈥檚 Hospital in honor of her sister, Charlotte, who died in 2010 (at the age of six) following a four-year journey with brain cancer.

 鈥淵ou never know what kids are going through,鈥� says O鈥橲hea, speaking from experience. 鈥淏ehavior [can be]  a form of communication, and you can鈥檛 blame a young person for the hand they were dealt鈥攚hether it鈥檚 genetic or learned,鈥� she says, pointing to her sister鈥檚 life as playing a pivotal role in her success as a kindergarten teacher (which, consequently, was the last year Charlotte completed in school). 鈥淪he gave me a unique perspective on looking at children, not blaming them for what situation they are in, and helping them to live a meaningful life,鈥� says O鈥橲hea who was 12 when Charlotte died.

As to her current why, for choosing to run and fundraise on behalf of her alma mater? 鈥淚 wanted to [run the marathon] again, and I was really proud to attend William James College. I had reached out in the fall to ask if WJC would be getting a bib this year and, when they got one from the City of Newton, they called to offer it to me. This is an opportunity for me to bring attention to the significant shortage of special needs teachers and school psychologists in school districts across New England and the rest of the country,鈥� says O鈥橲hea whose goal is for 500 community members to make a donation鈥攊n support of the School Psychology program at 91香蕉视频成人在线鈥攅ach of whom will receive a personal thank you note and a limited-edition WJC Boston Marathon sticker.

鈥淭he Boston Marathon is such an historic event, including the City of Newton and our campus at William James,鈥� says O鈥橲hea in a nod to the infamous Heartbreak Hill, a scant four miles from 1 Wells Avenue. Come Patriot鈥檚 Day, her whole family (including brothers William and James!) will be cheering her on.

鈥淲hen people ask me why I do what I do, I tell them, 鈥業 aspire to have my BCBA license, and knowledge of behavior analysis, to help these kids in this setting,鈥欌�� says O鈥橲hea (in a nod to her kindergarteners at Rita E. Miller Elementary School), whose decision to remain a classroom teacher not only sets her apart from many of her program peers, but also allows her to effectively stay in her own lane鈥攕etting her own pace, one lap at a time. 

Want to help Katherine meet her fundraising goals? Make a donation!

• Tags:
• In the Community