Meet The Intervention Specialist

clarsen@virtualconnectionsacadenmy.net

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Mr. Larsen joined VCA as the new Program Trainer Intervention Specialist!  His journey with the Connections Schools began in 2022 when he was a Program Assistant at South Campus.  Months later he joined Connections Day School as a Program Interventionist and then quickly became a Restorative Intervention Specialist, which is a role he stayed with for 3 years.  

 

Mr. Larsen's previous professional roles before coming to the Connections Schools include being a 3rd Grade Teacher, 1:1 Instructor for students with autism, Case Manager for adult clients with developmental disabilities, Director of Operations for a large sober living organization, and Emergency Medical Technician on a critical care ambulance.  After several years working outside of education, Mr. Larsen decided in 2022 it was time to get back to working with students, which brought him to Connections!

 

One fun fact about Mr. Larsen is that he is also a professional pumpkin carver known as "The Pumpkin Butcher."  He has carved pumpkins for several TV shows including Halloween Wars on Food Network, Windy City Live, segments for Fox, WGN, and ABC7, and a few others.  He even got to carve pumpkins for Disney and Marvel to promote one of their movies!  Mr. Larsen does lots of live Halloween events every year, and he is hoping to bring some pumpkin carving to VCA!

jlightbourne@virtualconnectionsacadenmy.net

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Mr. Lightbourne is a Program Trainer and Intervention Specialist who is passionate about teaching youth Social and Emotional Learning. After earning his Bachelor's Degree at the University of Illinois at Chicago as well as years of coaching and training adolescents, Mr. Lightbourne joined the Connections Organization in 2018 as a Program Assistant. Throughout the years, he began to work in the Restorative Interventions and Supports department as a Program Interventionist and Intervention Specialist at other Connections schools.

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