From the president
Sara Leopaldi, an Early Childhood Education student at Mount Wachusett Community College, is a leader both on and off campus. She is dedicated to ensuring the success of parenting students in addition to serving as a resource for their children. It is not an exaggeration to say that the new childhood watch program at MWCC would be impossible without her insight and leadership. Sara has also connected MWCC with community resources such as "Valuing Our Children" and, with their permission, has replicated some of their parenting workshops on campus. Sara is that rare individual who works well with children but is as equally impressive when interacting with parents and other adults in a child's life. Sara has proven herself so effective in managing volunteers - as a volunteer herself - that she has supervision of all volunteers currently working in the college child watch program. She has presented regionally and nationally on her work and is always willing to share her insights and wisdom to ensure all students and their children benefit from her experiences. All of this while also being a full-time student and a stepparent herself. Sara is truly remarkable.
Personal Statement
As a child, I struggled a lot in school and actually hated it. I was part of the “Special Education” cohort, and often felt like I was shoved into a classroom, and never given a chance. I barely graduated high school and needed to attend an alternative school to complete my high school diploma. It took me five years before I would return to the world of academia. I loved early education while raising and teaching my stepdaughter, Lilly. Lilly is Autistic and was non-verbal when I first came into her life. My teaching her became a true passion, and I knew then that I wanted to earn a degree not only for me but to show Lilly it could be done. I enrolled at MWCC in an Early Childhood for Exceptional Children degree and began as a work-study in the new Family Resource Center for parenting students. It is here where my passion has grown to include working with not only the children, but the families that raise them. Working with my fellow parenting-students and their families makes me feel part of a community that values the change we are all becoming.