Welcome Sandra and Natalia

Resident Director Sandra lives in the RD apartment with her daughter who is attending college remotely and her son, who attends Andover High. Sandra is an Assistant Chief Probation Officer for the Middlesex Juvenile Court where she draws upon 26 years of experience working in juvenile justice as well as her B.A. from Tufts University in child psychology. She is a native of the Merrimack Valley having grown up in Lawrence and then moved with her children to Andover. 

Sandra has a very hands-on approach, focusing on collaboration, cooperation and acceptance and an understanding that everyone can fail, saying that she likes to “help people stretch into opportunity.” She likes being with the Scholars, giving them someone they can lean on as she works to create a home away from home. Sandra is very appreciative of her parents’ focus on education. They are both immigrants from the Dominican Republic. Her father was the first pastor of the first Spanish-speaking church in the city of Lawrence. She was always singing growing up— so don’t be surprised if she bursts out in song.

Natalia, our Resident Advisor, comes to ABC with a graduate degree from Lesley College in mental health counseling with a specialization in dance movement therapy. As a 2013 AHS graduate, she shares a common journey with the Scholars as a student of color in Andover High. Natalia also happens to be Sandra’s niece and has always felt very close to her family— her cousins have felt like siblings. Coming to ABC just felt right. She hopes that Andover can be a community where everyone feels comfortable and for the Scholars to feel as comfortable here as anyone else. She is excited to be here and hopes she can be a resource and mentor. We are thrilled to have Sandra and Natalia in the ABC family!