Westford School principal returns to work after paralyzing fall

WESTFORD, Mass. — For the first time in almost a year, Kevin LaCoste woke up and got ready to go to work.

“In many regards this is really, truly my first school year as a principal, trying to figure this all out,” LaCoste said.

It’s been a long, uncertain road for the 42-year-old educator from Westford after he fell out of a tree while playing with his kids July 21, 2019.

LaCoste suffered a traumatic injury to his C3 and C4 vertebrae. He has no feeling below his shoulders.

“Being somebody who’s incredibly independent already, that’s been an adjustment,” LaCoste said. “Going back to work will be the same thing. I’m used to doing a lot of things on my own, I’m used to being very hands on, and that’s going to look just a little bit different.”

LaCoste said he made the decision to go back to work not long after he regained consciousness last summer.

“I had no doubt in July of last year that he would go back,” LaCoste’s wife, Ali, said.

LaCoste spent hours rehabbing at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital Boston and Journey Forward in Canton. Ali recently shared video of Kevin moving his right arm.

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“I’m hoping it becomes a story of triumph over something that was life altering for us,” Ali said.

A small group of family and friends gathered outside Robinson School on Wednesday morning, cheering Kevin on as he entered the building.

LaCoste said his biggest challenge will be finding new ways to connect with his students, especially the youngest ones.

“Kids would often times come up and give me a hug, and I think those are the things that I think will be a little bit different,” he said. “I can’t necessarily get down to their level with my big power chair, it’s taller than them. So I think that will be a challenge that I face.”

Ali has a simpler wish for Kevin’s return.

“I hope that he can be happy,” she said. “That really is my goal, is that he’s just happy with what he’s able to do.”

Westford classes are scheduled to begin Sept. 3, although, with the COVID-19 pandemic, no one knows what to expect in the Fall. The LaCoste family is used to rolling with the punches.

“When you step back and you look at July 21st, when I had my accident, until now, you can see the gains that have been made. But in the moment, it’s really hard to see those,” Kevin said. “What we share with people is that we continue to be hopeful but we also are realistic as well.”

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