September 30
Michelle Simons ‘06 started her journey at North Shore Community College (NSCC) during a very vulnerable time in her life.
The year was 2002, and after years of substance abuse and homelessness, Simons had completed a residential recovery program and was living in a sober house in Lynn.
“I was 28 years old and had failed out of school in 1990, but I started to feel like I was ready to learn something,” she said. “North Shore was such a perfect school. It felt like it was small enough, the instructors were really helpful and available, and I didn't feel like I got lost in the shuffle.”
At NSCC, Simons discovered a passion for helping others in recovery, and now, with over 20 years in her field, Simons has had a wide impact; she has worked with countless people in recovery, and she has trained more than 800 recovery coaches in Massachusetts.
Finding Support at NSCC
Simons was nervous when she first registered for classes—she had never been a good student, but here she was, taking the leap. The most important thing for her was staying in recovery and taking care of her mental health, so she signed up for just two classes: composition and a course on succeeding in college.
The college success course, taught by longtime NSCC counselor Tom Gerecke, proved invaluable. Gerecke taught students the time management, study, and other life skills that would serve them well throughout their education.
She will never forget the exhilaration of getting her first A. She earned it after using the study skills she learned in Gerecke’s class.
“I remember walking home—I was living in a sober living apartment at this point—and I literally felt like I was walking on air,” she said.
When Simons told him she was unsure of what to major in, Gerecke introduced her to Howie Sylvetsky, chair of the drug and alcohol rehabilitation program, and the two instantly hit it off—more than 20 years later, Simons and Sylvetsky still keep in touch.
Her drug and alcohol rehabilitation courses resonated deeply with her. Sylvetsky treated his students and their experiences like valuable resources, and Simons gained an understanding of the science behind her own recovery. Classes with Troy Smith helped her hone her counseling skills, building upon her own experiences in recovery to guide others.
“I can't speak highly enough about the environment. Super nurturing, small, and the instructors were very available. I felt like they really wanted me to succeed,” she said.
From Counseling to Training New Counselors
Simons began her career in addiction treatment while attending NSCC, and after graduating from NSCC, she transferred to Lesley University to earn her bachelor’s in human services. She later earned her master’s in counseling psychology at Salem State and completed her Massachusetts licensure as a Licensed Drug and Alcohol Counselor.
She has worked with several organizations on the North Shore, including Bridgewell and the Lynn Community Health Center, as well as the municipalities of Lynn, Swampscott, and Gloucester.
In 2018, she began working for NSCC as the coordinator for the Opioid Impacted Family Support Grant, which led to an opportunity to become a recovery coach trainer. Simons now runs the College’s Recovery Coach Academy, a series of courses which prepare students for the Massachusetts Board of Substance Abuse Counselor Certification.
Over time, her personal recovery has changed, as has her work. Simons has developed in her spiritual practice, and she frequently leads meditation groups on the North Shore. As her career has continued, she has built upon her experience in addiction and recovery. She has grown from direct support to focusing on training and overseeing recovery coaches themselves, making a difference across the North Shore and beyond.
Steven M. Chisholm, professor and chair of Drug and Alcohol Programs, may have put it best: “Michelle is a force in the recovery community.”