Administrative Professionals, Jennifer Mitchell and MaryAnn Sciame

Administrative professionals are often the first voice, first smile, and first sense of calm students experience each day at The School at Springbrook.

As part of our World Autism Acceptance Month (WAAM) highlight series this April, we are celebrating the meaningful connections that help students learn, grow, and feel a true sense of belonging. This Administrative Professionals Day on 4/22, we are proud to feature MaryAnn Sciame and Jennifer Mitchell, whose daily work reflects that mission in action.

From managing the constant flow of schedules, calls, transportation, and daily needs, to greeting students with warmth and familiarity, their impact is felt in every corner of the building.

They shared powerful reflections on the small moments that matter most:

• Students who begin with a simple “hi” and grow into full conversations
• Daily greetings that build trust, confidence, and belonging
• Quiet moments of encouragement that help students feel safe and supported
• The joy of seeing students reach communication and personal goals

Their message is powerful: inclusion and connection live in the everyday moments. In patience. In consistency. In truly seeing each student.

As part of our WAAM story series, we are honored to highlight the staff whose presence helps create a school community where every student feels valued and supported.

Please join us in celebrating MaryAnn, Jen, and all administrative professionals who help make this possible every day.

Read their full stories about the amazing experiences happening every day.

KUP SCIS Highlight

At Kids Unlimited Preschool (KUP), something powerful is happening every single day.

Through a Special Class in an Integrated Setting (SCIS) model, children of all abilities learn side by side, sharing experiences, building friendships, and growing together from the very start. It is a model rooted in inclusion, connection, and possibility.

And the impact is felt in ways that go far beyond the classroom.

It shows up in the little moments that become something much bigger. A child running excitedly to the door at drop-off. A friendship formed between peers. A sentence spoken clearly for the very first time.

In this environment, children are not only building academic skills, they are learning how to communicate, how to support one another, and how to understand the world through empathy and inclusion.

For families, the transformation is life changing.

One parent shared that in just a few months, her child has grown immensely, forming meaningful friendships and thriving in ways she never expected. Another described watching her son go from struggling with speech and daily interactions to speaking in full sentences, making friends, and navigating the world with confidence and joy.

This is the power of an integrated setting. This is the impact of learning together.

Read the full story to see how SCIS is changing lives every day.

Inclusive Training at the School

In recognition of World Autism Acceptance Month (WAAM), staff at The School at Springbrook participated in a meaningful professional development training focused on promoting neurodiversity and inclusion.  

Led by Dr. Lauren Lestremau, an assistant professor at SUNY Empire, the session explored disability as a form of diversity and reinforced the understanding that identity is complex and highly individualized. Through thoughtful discussion, staff reflected on the importance of belonging by creating environments where people with Autism feel safe, respected, and empowered to be their authentic selves.

The training not only deepened knowledge but also helped shape how staff approach their work each day. By emphasizing affirming language, challenging misconceptions, and centering the perspectives of autistic people, staff gained valuable insight into communication styles, social interaction, and behavioral characteristics. These takeaways continue to inform how they support students—through self-advocacy, honoring choice, and building inclusive, student-centered environments. Over the next few months, Dr. Lestremau will work closely with Springbrook’s licensed teaching assistants at The School in a partnership project with SUNY Empire’s Center for Autism Advocacy: Research, Education, and Supports (CAARES) to enhance Springbrook’s education program.

As Executive Director of Schools, Traci Lanner shared, “This was a great training for the School on inclusion and respectful language,” highlighting the ongoing commitment of staff to learn, grow, and strengthen inclusive practices in support of the students they serve.