Erin LaPrad

Strategic Leadership and Program Vision

• Responsible for the strategic development of the Bridging Over to Right Opportunities (BORO) adult transition program.
• Conducting long-term planning, needs assessment, and curriculum development to enhance program impact and ensure sustainability.
• Identifying and addressing operational inefficiencies, implementing solutions to improve functionality and support program growth.
• Implementing new policies and procedures to accommodate program growth, ensuring alignment with best practices and the evolving needs of an expanding student base.
• Oversight of facility renovations, updating the space to better serve students’ needs, ensuring safety, accessibility, and a supportive learning environment.

Program Development and Management

• Developing and managing evidence-based programming that aligns with student IEP goals, progress data, and industry best practices.
• Expanding student opportunities through partnerships with community organizations and local businesses, providing real-world work experiences and community engagement.
• Ensuring alignment with programmatic goals through continuous improvements and adaptability, fostering an inclusive environment that meets diverse student needs.
• Developing programming for families to assist in the transition from education to adult services.
• Developing resources for business partners to better equip them to support student interns and provides us with actionable data and feedback.
• Providing leadership and oversight for a multidisciplinary team, supervising staff, managing workflows, and setting department standards for excellence.
• Close collaboration with the Superintendent, the Director of Student Services and the Special Education Coordinator to ensure cohesive program delivery and team alignment with student IEPs and district strategic goals.

Entrepreneurial Development & Growth

• Expansion of the BORO Sugar Shack candy store and vocational "learning lab", transforming it into a profitable small business with a 26.6% compound annual growth rate (FY 2019 - FY 2024).
• Directing marketing, community outreach, and revenue-generating initiatives to significantly increasing engagement and sustainability.

Public Relations and Community Outreach

• Creating and fostering strong partnerships with community organizations, educational institutions, and businesses to promote the program’s mission and expand student internship and social opportunities.
• Designing marketing materials, maintaining the program and BORO Sugar Shack websites, and managing social media platforms to raise program awareness and foster community connections.
• Developing and executing public relations strategies to engage the community and promote program successes, utilizing newsletters, flyers, social media content, and video productions to enhance visibility and community support.

Budget and Operational Oversight

• Oversight of the program’s annual budget and Sugar Shack financial operations.
• Effective management of resources to align with strategic priorities and support sustainable growth.
• Maintaining detailed financial records and collaborating with senior leadership to secure necessary funding and resources, ensuring fiscal responsibility and operational efficiency.
• Securing donations from local community organizations and program supporters to fund programming, purchase equipment, and support the development of strategic initiatives.

Advocacy and Stakeholder Engagement

• Advocating for students' needs through partnerships with families, educators, and community leaders.
• Maintaining open communication with all stakeholders, providing updates through newsletters, meetings, and events to ensure ongoing support and engagement.
• Representing the BORO Program in various public engagements, including presentations to the school committee and community organizations, advocating for neurodiverse students and program initiatives.
• Known for a clear and engaging presentation style, effectively communicated program successes, goals, and needs, and building strong public support for BORO and its mission.

Key Achievements:

• Established the BORO as a model adult transition program for students with disabilities aged 18-22. Consulted with numerous other educational institutions interested in replicating its success.
• Grew the BORO Sugar Shack’s revenue from $38K to $124K in six years, building its capacity as a hands-on vocational learning lab and solidifying it as the foundation of our vocational education structure.
• Secured sizable donations from local organizations and supporters to expand program capacity.
• Effectively marketed the program and store to increase community engagement and donor support for expanded programming.

• Administered high-level projects advocating institutional strategic vision, including those to develop new strategies to award financial scholarships and federal aid to new and returning students.
• Collaborated with senior leadership, executive stakeholders, faculty, staff, students, parents, alumni, donors, and community partners.
• Oversaw the department budget, processing invoices, and monitoring expense reports.
• Provided staff management, including screening candidates, conducting interviews, performance evaluations and one-on-ones, and approving payroll.
• Performed data entry, tracking financial metrics, analyzing, and generating reporting.
• Composed and communicated operational protocols including Armed Intruder Response.
• Designed graphics and drafting communications for use in marketing materials including visual presentations, the department website and digital bulletin boards, student newsletters, press releases, and campus announcements.
• Coordinated department events.
• Represented the department at promotional and networking events.

Key Accomplishments:

• Coordinated the merger of three separate departments into a unified Student Financial Services in a single location, oversaw physical logistics, ensured delivery of service, and facilitated staff transition.
• Strategized and implemented a new front-line customer service position to serve as the face of the new Student Financial Services and triage the increased traffic flow; responsible for managing personnel, overseeing day-to-day operations; department public relations and marketing
• Compiled standard operating procedures, composed best practices, and created a database of answers to frequently asked questions to ensure response consistency and facilitate the on-boarding of new staff
• Spearheaded the institution's multi-campus Financial Literacy program, providing money-management education and resources to 6.8K students, families, faculty, staff, and alumni; comprehensive project management including research, development of relationships with outside partners, facilitation of interdepartmental collaboration, creation of literature, digital resources and financial tools

• Launched and supervised the music department and private music lesson program.
• Responsible for customer and community outreach and engagement in order to raise the profile of the Center and its programs and recruit business.
• Created facility and music program policies and procedures and ensured staff observed best practices.
• Screened, hired, and managed 12 instructors and orchestrated lesson scheduling for 150+ students per session.
• Served as a guitar instructor for students ranging in age from 6 to 70.
• Calculated and administered budgets, facilitated billing and accounts receivable, planned programs, coordinated marketing and public relations.
• Collected data, tracked financials, analyzed trends, and generated performance reports.
• Served as vendor liaison and coordinated facilities management.
• Event coordination and marketing.

Key Accomplishments:

• Designed consistent programming, expanded networking and community outreach initiatives to local schools, digital marketing, and open house events to develop staff and student recruitment strategies doubling program registrations and revenue in the first year of implementation
• Founded and managed the Center's adult community chorus, 'The Treblemakers'

• Administered all aspects of operating a small business: invoicing, accounts payable and receivable, appointment setting and calendar management.
• Created marketing materials, developed distribution lists, emailed promotions, networked with complementary services and attended community events.
• Conducted private guitar lessons with individuals and groups, held demonstrations, assisted artists to produce music and videos, artist marketing and public relations.