Eileen Marie Ahearn, beloved NCSSS faculty member and wife of Dean Emeritus Frederick L. Ahearn, Jr., entered peacefully into eternal rest on Friday, March 25, 2022. During her college years at Fordham University, Eileen volunteered at New York's Foundling Hospital, where she cared for newborn infants. Sensing her special talents and passion for children, Foundling Hospital awarded Eileen a scholarship to attend Catholic University's National Catholic School of Social Service in Washington, DC. She earned a Master's Degree and Ph.D. in Education from Boston College. In addition, Eileen built an impressive career, starting at the Quincy Public Schools. Eileen was the founder of the Assabet Valley Collaborative, an innovative partnership enabling eight school districts in Central Massachusetts to share and leverage special education and other services for children across the area. Eileen also served as Superintendent of Schools in Maynard, MA, where the governor awarded her the Mary E. Tobin Award as Outstanding Massachusetts Educator and role model for women.
Eileen worked for many years as a Policy Analyst for the National Association of State Directors of Special Education (NASDSE). Eileen's pioneering work in the field of special education in charter schools resulted in the creation by the National Center for Special Education in Charter Schools of an award named after her - the Eileen M. Ahearn Visionary Award. Her full obituary appeared in the Washington Post and can be read here. The family has asked that contributions celebrating her life be made to the Eileen Ahearn Scholarship at Catholic University's National Catholic School of Social Service.