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Littleton Academy is a therapeutic residential school that provides comprehensive clinical treatment and education to latency age children who have a history of complex trauma and significant behavioral/mental health issues and learning difficulties.
At a Glance
This service is for
Focus: Littleton Academy is a therapeutic residential school for children who will benefit from a structured and safe environment in which they can gain the skills needed to grow.
Age: 6-12
Gender: Male, female, transgender, non-conforming
Capacity: 16
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Janae Sernoffsky
Program Director
22 King Street
Littleton, MA 01460
Littleton, MA 01460
978) 952-6809 Ext 201
(978) 952-8607
jsernoffsky@jri.org
Littleton Academy
Littleton Academy is a 24/7, year-round therapeutic residential school that provides comprehensive clinical treatment and education to latency age children who have a history of complex trauma and significant behavioral/mental health issues and learning difficulties. Littleton Academy works with latency age children (6-12 years old) who have a history of complex trauma, emotional dysregulation and learning difficulties. Academy staff work closely with students to provide social, emotional and educational support in a warm, nurturing and physically comfortable environment. The program uses the ARC Framework. This model assists youth in developing the internal core strength, building strong positive attachments, self-regulation and competency skills. It is a treatment model developed to provide guidance for thoughtful clinical intervention with complexly traumatized youth. Littleton Academy provides individual and family therapy that supports youth in identifying their strengths and utilizing them on a daily basis. Our residents attend school on site, and are taught by a fully accredited teaching staff. Our individually tailored Success Plans are designed to be built around a child's age, educational and cognitive abilities and treatment plans. Through healthy relationships, individualized attention and non-judgmental support, our boys and girls will feel safe and empowered as they gain the confidence and skills needed to grow. Littleton Academy accepts private referrals, as well as those from school systems, state social services, youth services, mental health agencies, and educational agencies.
Learn more about Littleton Academy
Hear from the students and staff!
Janae Sernoffsky
Program Director
Janae joined Pelham Academy, a school of JRI, in 2015 as a Clinician after completing her Masters in Counseling Psychology from Boston College. She also holds a Masters in Sports Psychology and has demonstrated a strong commitment to healthy living in both the clinical space and program culture. Janae quickly realized her passion for training and competency programming and joined the administrative team as the Director of Staff and Student Development. While completing the leadership program at JRI, Janae stepped into the role of Assistant Program Director. In this role, she provided direct oversight of the services provided to students as well as program operations. In 2025, Janae transitioned to the role of Program Director at Littleton Academy. Janae continues to embrace a student-centered and trauma-informed lens in her daily interactions with students to build healthy attachments and life skills.
Zachary Kerr
Clinical Director
Zachary began his career doing LGBTQ+ advocacy working at the state and national level. During this time Zachary participated in many policy and advocacy efforts to further the rights and legal protections for LGBTQ youth. While studying for his Bachelors in Social Work at Wheelock College Zachary had his first experience working for JRI doing in-home therapy and therapeutic mentoring through the Child Behavioral Health Initiative. After graduating with his masters in social work from Boston College Zachary began doing outreach outpatient therapy with mainly MassHealth enrolled youth and their families before transitioning to working in a therapeutic day school first as a clinician then as an administrator. Zachary is excited at the opportunity to rejoin JRI as the Clinical Director of Littleton Academy!
Britny Pastuszak
Director of Educational Operations
Britny joined Littleton Academy in 2020, where she developed an innovative Visual Art & STEM curriculum that combines creativity with technical skills. By integrating art with science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, she created a program that fosters critical thinking and inspires students to explore the connections between these fields.
A licensed Visual Art educator with a Sheltered English Immersion Endorsement, Britny is currently continuing her education at Fitchburg State University as a candidate for a Master’s in Art Education. Her dedication to professional growth and student success is evident in her recent promotion to Director of Educational Operations in November 2024. In this new role, Britny supports staff, teachers, and students throughout the school day, helping to integrate academic and therapeutic support seamlessly into the school environment.
Lindsey Bloomindale
Co-Clinical Director
Lindsey began her career in the mental health field as a direct care staff at Franciscan Children's Hospital CBAT unit. While working at Franciscan's, Lindsey was studying to complete her Master's Degree in Mental Health Counseling at Boston College. After graduating with her master's degree, Lindsey worked as an inpatient therapist. After working at an inpatient unit, Lindsey came to Littleton Academy in 2021 as a clinician. Through her time at Littleton Academy, Lindsey was excited at the opportunity to join the administrative team as an administrator within the clinical department . She continues to provide clinical services to the clients at Littleton while also working to grow and build Littleton Academy as a whole as a part of the administrative team.
Shoshana Green
Director of Education Services
Shoshana earned her master's degree in special education at Lesley University in Cambridge. After completing her student teaching in Dedham, Shoshana ran a classroom for students with autism at one of the public schools in Woburn. She spent twelve years working as a special education resource room teacher in both Methuen and Groton, where she met her son. While going through the process of fostering and adopting her son and his sister, Shoshana found her passion in trauma-focused education. This led her to her first position at JRI, working as an English teacher at Littleton Academy. She is looking forward to helping more students access their education in her new position as Director of Educational Programming.
Education
Students attend school on-site, year-round, and have a full day of academic instruction. Our education program features small class sizes that combine cooperative, hand-on learning with individualize instruction. Our teachers provide clinically informed classroom support that takes each student’s emotional needs and learning style into account. In addition to the traditional curriculum, Littleton Academy offers enrichment time through expressive arts, health and fitness, music, environmental education and other programs.
Clinical
Littleton Academy provides individual and family therapy that supports our students in identifying their strengths and utilizing them on a daily basis. The program’s primary treatment is based on the ARC (Attachment, Regulation, and Competency) model, which focuses on helping to develop internal core strengths, and building strong, positive attachment, self-regulation and competency skills. This model was developed by Kristine Kinniburgh and Margaret Blaustein as staff at JRI. Littleton Academy also offers Trauma-Sensitive Yoga, Therapy Dogs and other unique therapy methods, which have all been proven effective in the treatment for many disorders, including trauma related struggles.
Recreation
The school is situated on two and half acres with an outdoor basketball court which is used year-round, large outdoor play area and a multipurpose rec room/gym. The program maintains a generous supply of both indoor and outdoor games, toys and equipment. This includes safety equipment for those activities requiring extra precautions. Indoor supplies include extensive arts & crafts supplies, board games, card games and an extensive reading library. In addition, age appropriate video games, movies and music is also available. Outdoor supplies include sports equipment, scooters and bicycles. Emphasis is always placed on participation and enjoyment of the games and activities offered.
The staff at Littleton really took the time to get to know me as a person. When I came there I was angry all the time and just wanted to go home. They helped me learn what I was angry about and talk to my mom and I got to go home.
Bobby
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