Latham Dedicates Campus Schoolhouse the McNamara-Long Schoolhouse


Yesterday Latham Centers dedicated its campus schoolhouse for children with complex special needs the McNamara-Long Schoolhouse. Amidst an intimate crowd of staff, students, and members of the Latham Board of Directors, Latham President & CEO Anne McManus unveiled the new schoolhouse sign with the assistance of honorees Matt McNamara and Kathy Long.


Together, Mr. McNamara and Ms. Long dedicated years of service to the children and adults who call Latham home. Kathy and Matt were involved with Latham in leadership capacities during its formative years and set up a foundation for its future growth and development and, for that, we are forever thankful. Their compassion, professionalism and commitment continue to serve as a model for all of us. Today, Latham School serves approximately 45 residential and day students on its tightly-knit Brewster campus. The schoolhouse houses a library, multiple classrooms, occupational therapy and nursing, technology, and administrative offices. 
Originally dedicated in 2002 as the McNamara Schoolhouse, an addition to the building has since been added while honoring the combined and collective work of Mr. McNamara and Ms. Long, dating as far back as 1974 through 2003.


Matt began his involvement at Latham (formerly Residential Rehabilitation Centers, Inc.) in 1974 assuming the role of Director of Education. Subsequently he served as Latham’s Executive Director, a position he held until 1984. 

Matt then went on to work with the Massachusetts Association of Approved Private Schools as Director of Membership Assistance and Deputy Director until 1991 when he obtained his Law degree at Suffolk University. He then pursued a successful and meaningful career as an attorney helping children and schools throughout the Commonwealth. After his retirement, Latham was fortunate to have had Matt rejoin us as a member of the board of directors.

In 1974, Kathy began her tenure with Latham Centers in a social work capacity. As the scope of social services increased in the late 70’s and early 80’s and the social service department at Latham expanded accordingly, Kathy assumed new roles and responsibilities including supervisor and social services coordinator. In 1981 Kathy was one of three people responsible for the design and implementation of the Gilbough Center, the second program in the nation developed to address the unique needs of people with Prader-Willi Syndrome. With the inception of the Gilbough Center and the implementation of a mentoring program for Latham School students called Options for Independence, the demands for agency-wide regulatory and programmatic accountability increased significantly. Kathy assumed the role as Director of Programs, a position created to address the evolving needs of the agency.

In 1985 Kathy left Latham Centers but returned in 1988 as its first Director of Human Resources and Training. In this position, Kathy developed or revised many of Latham’s personnel policies and practices and instituted the agency’s first comprehensive staff training pertaining to therapeutic crises intervention. 

In 1993, as the agency’s administrative demands increased, Kathy was appointed to the position of Associate Executive Director – a position she held until her retirement in 2003.

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