School Profiles: Meet Joyce Laundre, Director of Student Services

Name: Joyce Laundre

Position: Director of Student Services

Her office oversees special education services, English as a Second Language (ESL), English Language Learners (ELL), nursing and education of homeless students.

According to the Andover Public School website, the Student Services office is there to "provide each student with the necessary strategies, skills and support to function as independent and contributing members of the school and community."

Professional Background

For the past five years Laundre served as Director of Student Services for North Andover Public Schools. Before that she was a principal in Melrose, Assistant Principal at and a classroom teacher in Wakefield. She has also worked for the Department of Social Services.

She holds a MPA from Suffolk and a BA in Political Science from Trinity Washington University. In addition she has taken graduate courses in Special Education and Education at Salem State College.

Andover's Appeal

Laundre said she enjoyed working at the , 10 years ago, before her position was eliminated. She said had always wanted to come back because, "Andover offers students a solid education."

Excited to be part of the new leadership team, Laundre had previously worked with new Assistant Superintendent Paul Szymanski, when they were both in North Andover.

Challenges of the Position

With balance budget constraints, Laundre wants to put the needs of children first. "It is a balancing act," she said. 

Describing it as a huge challenge, Laundre said we are now seeing younger children with emotional difficulties such as mood disorders that were once unique to adolescents. 

"We need to develop programs, so children can remain in the classroom and community," she explained.

Goals

Laundre said that her first year will be spent getting to know staff, and listening to parents, "as to what we do well, and where we need to improve."

She would like to see multiple support programs and expanding those offerings for pre-school children in the community with a focus on literacy.

Another goal is working toward a co-teaching model with special education and education teachers in the same classroom. "Blending together is a rich experience for all students," she explained. 

She said that many districts already have an inclusive education experience. Although Andover has it in some classrooms, she would like to eventually see it implemented in all schools.

Professional development for special education and general education staff is important for implementation of programs, according to Laundre.

Relating Background to Accomplishment of Goals

When she served as Director of Special Services in North Andover, Laundre said they developed several therapeutic intervention programs with multiple support programs at the elementary level.

Personal  Background

Laundre lives in Melrose with her husband. They have two grown daughters, one who teachers pre-school, and the other is a social worker.