FRAMINGHAM, MA – Courtney Balacco will be the new director of health and wellness for the Framingham Public Schools effective July 1, Superintendent Robert Tremblay announced Thursday.
“I look forward to welcoming Courtney Balacco to Framingham Public Schools as the new director of health and wellness,” said Tremblay. “Ms. Balacco has so much to offer this community where she can utilize her previous experience supporting mental health for students, staff, and families, as well as build on her state and local agency collaboration and volunteer efforts. With a strong appreciation for the important work that lies ahead, I was pleased to join the Office of Teaching and Learning in helping to select a director who will support the current and future needs of our community.”
“I am excited and grateful to be joining Framingham Public Schools and the Department of Health and Wellness,” said Balacco. “I am honored to be joining a district that prioritizes and values inclusive, equitable and culturally responsive health and wellness programming and practices. I look forward to collaborating with district staff, community partners, and families in order to support the wellbeing of Framingham students.
“As a former resident and graduate of Framingham Public Schools myself, I look forward to returning and supporting the important work the district has already been doing to meet the academic, health, social, emotional, and behavioral needs of Framingham Public Schools students and families,” she added.
Balacco is currently a clinical coordinator at Westborough Public Schools, where she has supported the development of mental health programming and systems of support for the district. Her role there also included providing mental health support, consultation and training for students, staff and families for the past seven years.
Prior to that, she had worked in multiple social work and mental health roles across other districts, community-based organizations, and state governmental agencies for nearly 10 years. She is a board licensed mental health counselor and school social worker.
In addition, Balacco is also an active Red Cross disaster mental health responder, providing mental health support as a volunteer in response to state and national disasters and critical events.
Balacco’s educational background includes a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Stonehill College and a master’s degree in mental health counseling and school adjustment counseling/school social work from Bridgewater State University.
The district will offer a series of in-person meet and greet events with Balacco so that she can hear directly from the departmental staff, students and families as she prepares for official entry into the directorship on July 1.
The Department of Health and Wellness provides a wide range of services to meet the academic, health, social, emotional and behavioral needs of Framingham Public School students and families. Each school within the district is staffed with highly skilled student support services personnel, including school counselors, social workers, school psychologists, and school nurses. They work together as an interdisciplinary team to promote academic success and the overall wellbeing of students.
Additionally, within this department there are a number of highly trained specialists who focus on district wide support. These include the district PBIS Coordinator, the Social Emotional Mental Health (SEMH) team, Attendance Officer and the McKinney-Vento Care Coordinator. You can find more information about the Department of Health and Wellness on the FPS Website: Health and Wellness.
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