Northfield, NH (July 17, 2024) – Spaulding Academy & Family Services principal and director of special education, Garrett Lavallee, M.Ed, was recognized at the NH Association of Special Education Administrators (NHASEA) conference. The conference, held on June 14 in Concord, recognized and awarded special education administrators across the state.
Lavallee was honored with the Emerging Leader of Special Education for Private Providers award. The staff at Spaulding nominated the principal of two years with glowing letters of recommendation highlighting his positive impact on the school.
“Garrett is someone who leads with his whole heart,” said Meaghan Emmons, Spaulding CFO and one of the many nominators. “Love and compassion drive his every action. It is evident in the hugs and high fives that he doles out generously to our students each morning and afternoon. Garrett’s strengths lie in forming relationships with each student, meeting each where they are at, and addressing their unique needs each day.”
Lavallee believes that every child deserves a chance, and a safe, loving environment to learn in. His devotion to this ideology is abundantly clear to anyone who has witnessed him at work or has had the opportunity to work alongside him.
“You don’t get into this line of work for awards, or for yourself,” Lavallee said when asked what winning this award meant to him. “Winning this award is a reflection of my team and the amazing staff we have, not just in our school but on the campus as a whole.”
He credits much of his success as principal to his understanding of his staff, due to his numerous years spent at Spaulding in various roles. He knows just how challenging working in special education can be, but he also knows just how rewarding it is.
Lavallee’s roots at the school are deep. His father worked at Spaulding Academy for 44 years and his family fostered children during school vacation weeks, all of which inspired him to pursue working at the school. He began his career in special education at Spaulding in 1999, at the time working as a member of the residential team while an undergrad student. Since then, he has worked as a paraeducator, special education teacher, special education coordinator and assistant director of special education prior to earning the title of principal and director of special education in 2022.
“I have a saying that miracles happen here on a daily basis,” said Lavallee, “Those little ‘lightbulb moments’ where a child understands something new happens all the time and is what makes it as exciting today as it was when I started 25 years ago. It still fills my bucket and makes me want to come to work every day, I think I have the best job in the world.”
Spaulding Academy & Family Services was established in 1871 in Northfield, NH. Formerly known as Spaulding Youth Center, today the organization serves youth from ages 4 through 21 at its 500-acre Northfield campus and offers services such as foster family licensing, Individual Service Option (ISO) foster care, ISO in-home services, child health support services, and more.
