Suzanne Rivard joined the team at Dearborn Academy in fall 2018. A seasoned milieu therapist, she was looking to move to a school with a strong academic component. 

Before coming to Dearborn, Suzanne worked at a therapeutic residential and day school for 23 years. There, she wore many hats, including residential supervisor, crisis coordinator, assistant program manager and manager on duty. Suzanne developed and led the summer program, as well as trained and supervised hundreds of staff members during her long career working with students with learning needs and complex mental health challenges. 

What Suzanne most loves about working at Dearborn Academy is the dedication of the staff and how the team provides students with the skills and support they need in order to have agency over their lives.