Changing Lives at Special Tree: The Path to Success

Special Tree team members participating in the Brain Injury Fundamentals course through the Brain Injury Association of America.

At Special Tree, we believe everyone has their own journey, and each story can inspire someone else. We’re all about helping our staff grow personally and professionally while making a real difference in the lives of our patients.

Over the past fifty years, we've always made it a point to support our staff's education. We cover the costs for professional license renewals, offer chances for ongoing learning, and provide tuition assistance to make things easier. In fact, in 2024 we supported staff with more than $10,000 in tuition reimbursement. We know that going back to school or taking specialized courses can be tough, especially when you’re juggling work and other responsibilities. That’s where our support comes in—it’s not just about the money; it’s about investing in our team’s futures. When our people thrive, we all benefit as an organization. 

We have had so many team members begin their healthcare careers at Special Tree. Rehabilitation Assistants who pursued Certified Evaluated Nursing Assistants (CENA) certification (and got a wage bump!), RSTs and CENAs who have gone on to nursing school, become Physical Therapy Assistants (PTAs) or Occupational Therapy Assistants (COTA), therapy interns who went on to earn degrees and came back to work with us, Administrative Assistants who were inspired to pursue nursing and rehabilitation degrees, and more. We've had many others move into leadership roles as they arise – maintenance and IT professionals who now direct their respective departments, countless RSTs moving into Team Coordinator positions, Administrative Professionals who jumped over to accounting and HR, and even our Facility Administrator who first began here as a Physical Therapist.

We want our workplace to feel like a community where everyone feels included and encouraged to reach their full potential. As our staff shares their journeys, they inspire each other to chase their dreams. Through hands-on experience and mentorship, our team members gain valuable skills that boost their careers in a collaborative and innovative environment. We celebrate those wins and learn from the experiences we all have together.

A huge congratulations to these team members who pursued career advancements in 2024 and 2025 (so far!) We are so proud of you, and grateful for your contributions at Special Tree. Way to go!

Did we accidentally leave you out of our round up? Have you accomplished something cool in your career, earned a new certification, or gotten a promotion that you'd want to share with others? Let us know by completing the form below, we'd love to feature you!