Deborah Kneeland Keegan shares over 35 years’ experience in child development, education, and nonprofit administration. She holds a master’s degree in educational management from Lesley University and earned her Massachusetts Special Education Certification in 1973 and Elementary School Principal Certification in 1983. Her professional expertise also includes work as a Special Education Teacher in public and private school systems, an educational consultant in the office of the Associate Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Education and the Director of one of the first Alternative High Schools in Massachusetts. Deborah’s pride and passion today is serving as the Executive Director of For Kids Only Afterschool programs, where she has served as Executive Director for the past 32 years.
In 1984, as a full-time working parent and educator, Deborah co-founded the nonprofit For Kids Only Afterschool (FKO) with another certified school teacher. Together, they recognized that many school age children were spending too many hours home alone afterschool and that families were not able to afford to enroll their children in organized activities during the out-of-school time hours. Reaching out to local community and education leaders, they identified a need for and opened an affordable, quality afterschool program at the elementary local school.
Under Ms. Kneeland’s strong leadership, FKO has distinguished itself from most other north shore afterschool and summer program providers by being able to successfully include all children in high-quality afterschool programming, including English Language Learners, newcomers, children with disabilities or special needs and those who have severe behavioral or other health challenges. Deborah oversaw the creation of the Count Me In! model of inclusive programming at FKO that safeguards the ability of all children to fully participate in afterschool programming. Count Me In! relies on partnerships with city and school leaders and community health organizations to meet the unique needs of each child and ensure out-of-school time programs provide the maximum academic, social, emotional and physical benefits possible.
Deborah is a teacher at heart and continues to share her expertise with budding educators. Throughout the years, she has taught at North Shore Community College, Bunker Hill Community College, Roxbury Community College and Curry College, as well as frequently being sought out as a keynote speaker and expert statewide trainer. A tireless advocate for children and families, Deborah lead the first Advocacy Day for the Massachusetts School Age Coalition and presently serves on the Board of Directors for the Mass Association of Early Education and Care.
Deborah’s personal life is just as full as her professional career, and she carefully tries to balance both. She is the proud mother of three adult children who all are involved in her nonprofit in some capacity. During her free time, she enjoys spending time with her grandchildren and visiting the White Mountains with her husband Larry and taking time to smell the flowers, hike, ski, kayak or simply read at the river.
