Mrs. Alyssa Billings

I fell in love with Nantucket while attending the University of Rhode Island in the early 90s.  After working on island for three summers, I graduated from URI with a Bachelor of Science in Human Development, Counseling, and Family Studies.  I moved to Boston, and worked at the May Institute as a job coach. While working with this special population, I was keenly aware of the strengths and talents of these adults. Most of the clients had limited educational opportunities growing up, and there was limited knowledge and supports available for autism spectrum disorder. This experience inspired me to return to school for teaching special education. I received my Master of Education from Simmons College in 1999.  I completed my student teaching at Kennedy Middle School in Natick, MA and joined the faculty at Andover High School, working as a high school Special Needs Teacher. However, Nantucket had left an indelible mark on my heart. As the first line of a poem by Rachel Field states, "If once you have slept on an island, you'll never be quite the same..." I have enjoyed and appreciated each day over the last 19 years working with the youth of Nantucket at Cyrus Peirce Middle School.  I am fortunate to share this amazing life with my husband, Tripp, our two boys, Ben and Jack, and our rescue dog, Ranger.