Since 2003, Needham Steps Up (NSU) has helped students overcome institutional and circumstantial barriers that make accessing all that Needham High School has to offer an often insurmountable challenge.
NSU is entirely funded through generous donations from businesses and members of our community. In addition to one-to-one mentoring, NSU provides equity and enrichment grants, SEL skill development, college application assistance, post- graduation planning, and more.
Every
student
deserves to
access the full Needham
High School experience
MISSION
The mission of Needham Steps Up is to empower qualifying students at Needham High School through trusted mentoring relationships that help develop their capabilities and provide access to the resources necessary to successfully navigate high school and achieve their post-secondary goals
history
Needham Steps Up originated in 2003 under the name Countdown to Success. It was established with a $20,000 grant from the Congregational Church of Needham when four dedicated parents, who lived in Needham public housing, committed to creating a mentoring program for their high school-age children who were underserved as a result of their circumstances. They identified a clear need for tutoring and support, free of charge, to help their kids access the Needham educational experience as expected, and help with the college application process. Their grassroots effort to establish such a program paid off and they launched Countdown to Success as an after school tutoring program.
In 2006, with an additional grant from the church, the program evolved into a comprehensive, one-to-one mentoring program, and was renamed Steps to Success. In 2010, when the funding was due to expire, a group of community members formed Needham Steps Up (NSU) as a fundraising organization to ensure the continuation of Steps to Success. Now located within Needham High School, the program became an essential vehicle for establishing equity for the students enrolled. The relationships and skills students have developed through the program have had a measurable impact on their success in high school and beyond. In 2014, Steps to Success was renamed Needham Steps Up.
leadership
Heather Sweeney, Program Director, Needham Steps Up
Heather Sweeney joined the Needham Public Schools in 2018 as a Spanish teacher at Needham High School. Known for her warmth, effective collaboration skills, instructional expertise, and student-centered approach to teaching, Heather is beloved by colleagues and students alike.
In her first year as a teacher at NHS, Heather was clear about her commitment to equity and honoring the diverse needs of her students. By the second semester she had committed to mentoring a student in Needham Steps Up and developing a positive, supportive relationship. Her first mentee graduated from Needham High School last year and is attending the University of Denver to study hospitality management.
Heather’s focus on supporting Needham students was also highlighted in the spring of 2019 when she was recognized by SEPAC (Needham Special Education Parent Advisory Council) with an award for her dedication to her students.
We are so fortunate to have Heather take the lead as NSU’s new Program Director. Her focus on equity, dedication to students, and commitment to service are central to her work as an educator and will be at the heart of her work as NSU’s Program Director.
Heather has an undergraduate degree in Political Science, Spanish and Hispanic Studies from Union College and a Master's Degree in Secondary Education from UMass Boston.
Kate McMahon, Assistant Director
board of directors
Jean Baptiste, NSU Alumnus
Sam Bookston, Technology
Judy Chin, Grant Compliance & Member at Large
Dianne Escalante, Grant Compliance
Jodi Feeney, Co-President & Treasurer
Geri Fox, Program Evaluation
Natalie Gilchrist, Program Evaluation
Felicia Mathias, Member at Large
Nicole Maffeo, Community Partnerships
Sandee Molinsky, Clerk
Jennifer Quinn, Co-President
Elizabeth Zajac, NHS Liaison
News
We are still basking in the glory of being awarded a three-year $30,000 grant by Cummings Foundation in May 2024. NSU is one of 150 local nonprofits, out of 715 applicants, sharing in $30 million through Cummings Foundation’s major annual grant program.
This grant allows us to jump start our goal to expand our program by one additional mentee per grade, each of whom is guaranteed a four-year spot. The grant will cover the first three mentees and will also allow us to increase our mentor stipends, which will help us continue to attract and retain our wonderful NHS mentors
Some 2023-2024 NSU Board Members Celebrate Cummings Grant
We Won!!!