Amherst, N.H. (August 3, 2023) – Regional Services and Education Center’s (RSEC) Vista Learning Center, in Amherst, recently welcomed Lindsey McElhinney as the center’s new director. McElhinney brings 16 teaching experience working with students with various disabilities and unique learning needs from preschool through high school. She assumed her new position on July 1.
Vista Learning Center serves students from grades five to 12 and provides small-group academic instruction for those with Autism, speech-language impairment, emotional disturbances and other health impairments (OHI). Center programs teach rigorous academics in parallel with social thinking skills, which are essential for students to navigate the ever-present demands of life. The center’s highly focused approach integrates families, students, school staff and other professionals to create a community of trust, respect and understanding.
“Lindsey is a great addition to our RSEC team,” said Devin Bandurski, executive director of RSEC. “Her experiences and background make her the ideal candidate to lead the Vista Learning Center. She exudes a passion for the field and students we serve and I’m excited to have her at the helm. Vista Learning Center will greatly benefit from her leadership for years to come.”
For the past five years, McElhinney held the role of special education coordinator for the Merrimack School District, servicing students with social/emotional needs at the middle school and high school. Prior to that, she worked at the Nashua School System in various roles as a preschool teacher and special education teacher from 2009 through 2017 and as a special education teacher and case manager at Valley Collaborative in Massachusetts from 2007-2009. McElhinney earned a bachelor’s degree with a dual certification in Early Childhood General and Special Education from the University of Hartford and a master’s degree in General Special Education and Emotional Behavioral Disorders from Rivier University in Nashua, N.H. She is enrolled in a Doctoral program at Southern New Hampshire University with a focus on Educational Leadership. She resides in New Hampshire with her husband, 2 children and their dog.
” I am excited to be joining the RSEC family,” said McElhinney. “I look forward to the unique challenges and opportunities this program has to offer and I am confident my experience in private and public school systems will further strengthen the school’s mission in supporting students, families, and Vista’s talented staff. I feel privileged to have the opportunity of working in this elite school whose reputation is so highly regarded throughout New Hampshire for its ability to reach a variety of learners and address their needs. To be in a position where I can be more present in the classrooms on a daily basis, supporting educators and students directly, is exactly what I was searching for in the next step of my career.”
The foundation of Vista Learning Center is the belief that no two students learn or are developmentally alike. The Center uses a broad variety of best practices to identify the one that is most effective for each student and will explore every opportunity to capitalize on each student’s abilities and interests. This approach requires a contribution of service providers, teachers and team members as well as a range of environments.
About Regional Services and Education Center, Inc.
Regional Services and Education Center, Inc. (RSEC) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) entity created to provide school districts in southern New Hampshire with a variety of high quality educational and special needs focused programs and services. RSEC currently administrates five programs, including Sunrise Children’s Center, an early childhood educational center, The RSEC Academy High School and Middle School, which serves students with learning disabilities, Longview School, an alternative high school program, and Vista Learning Center.
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