By Abhiraam Venigalla — Correspondent
Attention ninth graders! Sharon High School is welcoming a new freshman LEAP teacher. Ms. Jennifer Collado is set to make a fresh start at SHS in the 2023-2024 school year.
LEAP is a specialized program for kids who need assistance with their grades and generally acts as a booster for students who need extra help in school.
Collado, who spent most of her childhood in the South, including Mississippi, New Orleans and Houston, mentions her experience in the special education field has been through internships in high school and college. Collado says that she started her education journey at Northeastern University where she acquired a Bachelor’s degree in Speech Pathology & Audiology and then went on to Portland State University for a master’s in special education. Collado says that she then began her career working in Dundee, “a small town in Oregon,” for a year. She then went back to Boston to pursue a second master’s in educational leadership K-12 from UMass Boston.
If it weren’t for the special education field, Collado says that she once was interested in going into the Air Force, but her plans suddenly changed due to a tragic event. “I also have a student pilot’s license, as I wanted to go into the Air Force when I was in high school. That career changed the day JFK Jr died in a plane crash off Martha’s Vineyard. I was in the air at that time and my mother had a heart attack because I was in the same [type of airplane] he was flying,” explained Collado.
When asked about what advice she would give to high schoolers, Collado highlights the importance of taking electives that are geared towards students’ interests. “Taking more electives because that is where you develop your hobbies and passions,” said Collado.
Collado’s devotion to SHS shines through when asked about her future. “I still see myself working here at SHS,” said Collado.
Collado says that outside of work, she takes a big interest in golf and traveling. “I am a fan of golf and like playing it too. I also like traveling. I have been to Thailand 3 times,” she said.