Pros
I don't even really know where to begin with NECC. I guess I will start with the positives, because for sure, for some (probably a few) people, NECC is the right place for them. The kids are by far the best part of this job and if this job will do one thing for you it will make your heart the fullest it will ever be when you look at the kids on your team. You will get to know the kids on your team a lot better than you ever would in a traditional school because most likely you will be both in a school and residential environment. Another great thing about NECC is the on-site master's programs in both ABA and Special Ed.
Cons
Now onto the real stuff you came here to read, NECC like most residential facilities does not differ. The schedule is awful, you will for sure work 12-13 hour days at minimum once a week (most likely on a Saturday or Sunday), you will have to work most holidays, you will have to come in during the middle of Massachusetts blizzards, and you will almost always be in a situation where you are severely understaffed. The pay is awful (38k) for all the things they expect of you, your job will not stop at teaching, do not be fooled by the job title and description. You will have to cook, clean, do laundry, give meds, on top of all your other responsibilities. You get paid "breaks" but don't let cords catch you not doing work on your breaks. You do not get lunch breaks, and often you will not get to eat because you don't have time, because you are too busy caring for your student. NECC really backs you into a corner and takes advantage of you for all you have. They know this is your first job, they know you have a one year contract, and they make you well aware that you cannot say no. I have stayed up countless nights completing things for my role as "case manager" a role that sounds very appealing, and for sure looks impressive on a future resume when you get the heck out of this place, but will come with, no surprise, zero compensation. You will be responsible for things at times you have absolutely zero time for in your workweek, things like preparing for IEPs, writing progress reports, and preparing for educational meetings. Sure, these are all things expected of every other special educator in Massachusetts, and I for one would have no complaints about doing any of these things if I got paid the salary of any other Massachusetts educator. Higher ups only care about the image of the school and will constantly make excuses for the problems brought up by many employees as you can see in their various responses to these reviews. Take what you will from this review, and there is someone out there, perhaps like me, who thinks that the master's program will be worth the 3-5 years it will take to complete at the reduced rate. After working here a year, I have decided, it is not worth the emotional and physical stress this job has caused me. The masters, in my opinion, is a ploy, and you will, in one way or another, pay for it, at the end of your time at NECC.
