The months may already be flying by but our students and staff are already having a great year! This is especially true for our incredible new staff members who are settling into Wolf and our community! Learn more about one of our newest Occupational Therapists, Lauren Packer, in this month’s We Are Wolf interview!

1. Can you briefly tell us about your background before coming to Wolf?
I graduated from MCPHS with my Master’s in Occupational Therapy. Prior to Wolf, I worked in a Sensory Integration Clinic, providing individualized OT intervention to clients from the ages of 2 years old to 13 years old. More than half of my caseload had a focus on feeding therapy, so I spent a lot of my time in the kitchen creating novel kid-friendly recipes, experiments, and food crafts to increase mealtime engagement. My favorite thing about this experience was seeing my clients meet their goals while also having a blast playing on the ziplines and swings.
2. How did you first get interested in the field of Occupational Therapy?
Throughout my years in college, I spent time each week volunteering at a therapeutic riding barn assisting with weekly lessons. I enjoyed getting to know the children and working on functional everyday skills that are embedded in caring for and riding horses. This sparked my interest in the OT field and led to my first internship at an elementary public school in NH. These experiences cultivated my passion for helping children maximize their independence with everyday tasks at home, school, and within the community. My amazing mentors throughout this journey have kept my passion for OT going.
3. What most excites you about working with Complex Learner?
Working with Complex Learners allows me to be creative and think on my feet throughout the school day. I enjoy working with students to problem solve and find strategies to increase their success both inside and outside of the classroom. I enjoy tapping into students’ specific interests and areas of strength to create motivating and meaningful strategies.
4. What has been your favorite Wolf moment so far?
I have loved getting to know everyone at Wolf! This is such a welcoming and fun community. My favorite Wolf moment was the recent cross-country meet at Wolf. It was awesome getting to see our students cross the finish line with all of their peers and teachers cheering them on.
5. What’s your favorite book?
I am a Kindle reader and love to end the school day with a good book. If I had to choose a favorite, I would choose “Stronger” by Jeff Bauman and Bret Witter.
Welcome, Lauren! With your enthusiasm, expertise, and passion – you are a great addition to our school and our community. To learn more about other Wolf Staff, read some of our past We Are Wolf interviews!