March 1 is Employee Appreciation Day! We are celebrating our team members all month long by sharing their stories. Read more about Jennifer Ceccardi, Education Director, River Rock Academy, and how she helps manage Individualized Education Plans (IEP) at our Amity campus.  

What is your favorite thing about working here?  

I love working at River Rock Academy because it is such a unique environment where I can make an impact on student’s lives, help them grow, and witness them make breakthrough moments. Seeing them return to their home school or walk across the stage at graduation with us is such a rewarding and powerful thing to be a part of. 

What keeps you coming to work each day?  

The students and a strong culture among our staff. Our team is like a second family, and we can always count on each other. Despite the challenging days that come with this job, the support from our team and the meaningful relationships that I’ve built with the students make it all worthwhile. Witnessing the growth and progress of our students serves as a constant reminder that we all have an impact, and it keeps me going even on the toughest days. 

How do you make an impact on students’ lives? 

I think I make an impact on our students’ lives by seeing their potential and helping them grow. I help them see what they are truly capable of and support them when needed. There is never any judgement and every day is a new day.  

Last year, we rolled out our BetterTogether guiding principles. Which one of our values resonates with you most personally and why? (Integrity, Accountable, Collaborative, Inclusive, Supportive)  

Supportive. A team that is supportive will hold us accountable and we will all work more collaboratively. We all support each other professionally and personally. Additionally, the support we give our students helps them grow academically and emotionally.  

What does a “day in the life” look like for your role?  

I help support my teachers with any of their needs, both classroom and IEP. I pop into the classroom to build relationships and provide support to students and teachers. I am in constant communication with local education agencies (LEA’s) and sit in student and district meetings and hold IEP meetings. I meet with students, and we go over multi-tiered system of solutions (MTSS) goals or progress monitoring. I am constantly collaborating with the team and supporting them on all the educational aspects.  

Can you talk a little bit about your career trajectory and what led you to where you are now?  

I started at River Rock Academy’s Amity campus in 2019 and taught English. The following school year, I moved over to the Sinking Spring campus and became a lead teacher. I loved teaching English, but I had a goal of helping teachers with the IEP process and support their growth as educators. Berk’s county opened a position for an Education Director back at the Amity campus, so I applied and moved back over. I miss being in the classroom full-time, but I absolutely love my new position. 

What has been your proudest moment or accomplishment in your role? 

I would say my proudest moment at River Rock was receiving an impact award at graduation. It was very rewarding seeing the impact that I made on at least one student’s life.  

What is something about you that not many people know?  

I am originally from California and moved out to Pennsylvania during the summer of 2018 to be closer to my biological family. I love cooking with my boyfriend and three kids on the weekends and making family meals together.