Karen Isaacson, Executive Director, Southborough Extended Day Program Inc.
Isaacson
Karen Isaacson recently took over the daily management of the Southborough Extended Day Program. In this Q&A she talks about spending her days traveling from site to site and working on a laptop surrounded by young children.
Vital Stats
Name: Karen Isaacson
Title: Executive Director
Company: Southborough Extended Day Program
Location: 60 Richards Rd, Southborough
Personal residence: Shrewsbury
Family: Husband, Ric; son, Max, age 8
Education: Bachelor's in family studies, University of New Hampshire; master's in early childhood education, University of Massachusetts
Previous job: Director, Textron Systems Children's Center, Wilmington
Start date at new job: Aug. 10
Q. How are you settling in at your new office?
A. My office is in the corner of an extended day classroom and I'm surrounded by the sights and sounds of kindergarteners. It's so much more fun than working in a cubicle. Now that school is back in session, I'm supervising four different sites, so I've been settling into my laptop and a well equipped briefcase.
Q. What's the biggest surprise you've had in starting the job?
A. I'm surprised how quickly the first month has passed. Everyone has been incredibly helpful and supportive as I learn the ropes. It's great to be part of such a strong community.
Q. What challenges do you see in your new position?
A. It's going to be challenging coordinating the communication between four buildings, 20 staff, 200 families and school personnel. Nothing is more frustrating than not having the information you need, when you need it. I don't like to leave anything to chance, and I'm working hard to develop clear systems.
Q. How different is this job from your previous position?
A. It's similar. I was the director of a large child care center serving children birth-age 12. This position narrows my focus to school-age children, but broadens my scope of management. The fundamental skills remain the same - providing high-quality programs for children, a great work environment for staff and exceptional customer service for parents.
Q. How close is this to what you imagined in high school you'd end up doing?
A. I have always wanted to work with children and families, but as I teenager I didn't imagine I'd ever move into administration and leadership.
Q. Where's the best place to get lunch near your new location?
A. I haven't ventured any further than my lunch box!
Q. What do you hope to be doing 10 years from now?
A. I want to establish deep roots in the Southborough community, while looking for opportunities to grow. I hope to find ways to build on SEDP's successful 20-year history, and to develop innovative programs to serve the town's families.
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