Stephanie Ward of Walpole wins service award for dedication to helping state’s most challenged youths, adults

For 35 years, Stephanie Ward has worked for Justice Resource Institute (JRI) in Swansea which offers underserved families, adults, and young people a wide range of schools and services from foster care to behavioral health and trauma recovery, HIV/AIDS care, developmental disability instruction and residential and educational programs. Ward, a vice president who now oversees JRI’s work with the state departments of Youth Services and Mental Health, was recently honored with the maaps Service Award.

maaps (Massachusetts Association of 766 Approved Private Schools) is a non-profit organization whose member schools provide educational services and programs to special needs students across the state. On May 16, Ward of Walpole received her award at maaps’ 36th annual conference at the Best Western Royal Plaza Hotel and Trade Center in Marlborough.

“Stephanie Ward has been an integral part of JRI for the last 30+ years,” said Andy Pond, JRI’s CEO. “But she's never been one to rest on her professional laurels. She's a skilled clinician, and as a Vice President, Stephanie has contributed greatly to the growth and development of JRI over the past decade. In the past five years she's become a widely known systems expert and advocate for special education funding and support. She does it all--from one on one contact, to leadership at a state and national level.”

After college, Ward started her career at JRI and worked her way up, distinguishing herself by working with some of the most challenging adolescents and adults in the organization and in the state. She directed intensive care units for the state’s youth and mental health departments, most recently for Meadowridge and Swansea Wood schools which are Chapter 766-approved residential schools.

Ward served as president of the maaps board for a two-year term that started in 2011 and has chaired several committees. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Holy Cross College, a master’s degree from Bridgewater State University, and two post-graduate certificates in non-profit executive management from the one-year maaps-Suffolk University program and Boston University where she has mentored students since 2009.

“maaps member schools, teachers and staff work tirelessly each day to provide high-quality educational experiences to their students, and Stephanie Ward sets the bar when it comes to helping to lead them forward,” said maaps Executive Director James V. Major. “I’m proud to call her a colleague, and I am even more proud to recognize Stephanie’s continued leadership and commitment to JRI and maaps.”

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About maaps:

The Massachusetts Association of 766 Approved Private Schools (maaps) is a non-profit association whose member schools provide educational programs and services to students with special needs throughout Massachusetts.  The schools operate over 150 day and residential programs and schools, providing education and treatment to over 5,300 Massachusetts students with disabilities. They also bring in over $189 million into the Commonwealth’s economy in tuition payments from 1,400 out-of-state students, and employ over 10,000 teachers, clinicians, residential care and other staff.  For many of the students, maaps schools represent their first real opportunity for hope, achievement and to become productive members of society.