At Bancroft, our story has always been shaped by remarkable women. From leaders and clinicians to educators and advocates, women across Bancroft have helped build a culture where people are seen, supported, and empowered to thrive. Their leadership has strengthened the organization, while opening doors and expanding opportunities for the individuals and families we support.
In honor of Women’s History Month, we’re celebrating just a few of the women who have dedicated more than 20 years to Bancroft and carried Margaret Bancroft’s mission forward. Through their work, her legacy continues.
Our Founder, Margaret Bancroft
Margaret Bancroft started the Bancroft School in her Haddonfield, NJ home with just one child and a belief that every child deserved to learn, grow, and be supported. That belief helped shape the early foundations of special education in America. At a time when children with intellectual and developmental disabilities were often misunderstood, ignored, or institutionalized, she saw possibility, dignity, and potential.
Her mission was fueled not by wealth or recognition, but by courage, empathy, and an unshakable commitment to inclusion.
Her legacy lives on through Bancroft today, which grew from her humble beginnings into a pioneering organization that supports individuals across their lifespan. Margaret’s revolutionary belief that education should nurture the whole person and honor each child’s unique abilities helped lay the foundation for modern special education and therapeutic support. More than a century later, her spirit endures in the women who have made Bancroft their own life’s work, carrying forward her mission today.
Learn more about Margaret’s story.
Janita Wise, Senior Program Director
For 27 years, Janita Wise has dedicated her career to growing alongside the individuals she supports at Bancroft. Starting as a Direct Support Professional, Janita spent her first 16 years in one Marlton residential program home, where she built deep, lasting family relationships with the individuals she supported. She still visits them regularly to stay connected. “We grew up together,” she says.
Janita’s passion for people was always evident, and she steadily advanced from management to director, ultimately becoming Senior Program Director, overseeing group homes in Burlington County, Pompton Lakes, and Bancroft’s apartment programs.
Janita says the work has shaped her just as much as she has shaped it. The patience, advocacy, and resilience she has developed professionally have strengthened her personally as a wife, mother, and daughter. The skills she learned supporting individuals, especially in medical advocacy and empowerment, have carried over into her own life in powerful ways.
“You really do get caught up working at Bancroft because the care that you give, you get that back from the individuals,” she says. “You can feel it in their smiles and the excitement they have when they see you. Who doesn’t want that feeling?”
Read more about Janita Wise here.
Velma Green, Program Associate
When Velma Green first walked through the doors at Bancroft more than two decades ago, she didn’t expect it would become her life’s work. Encouraged by a neighbor to apply, she came in for an interview and quickly felt something special.
“I felt like I belonged here,” she says.
Velma began in the school program as a one-to-one support staff member and later transitioned to residential services, where she now supports five women in their home, helping with daily routines, medical appointments, and advocacy.
After 24 years, Velma continues to grow in her role. She recently enrolled in the Direct Support Professional certification program through the National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals and is now preparing to complete the final level.
What keeps her coming back each day is simple: the relationships.
“You show up, you listen, and you care. That makes the difference,” Velma says.
Those connections can last a lifetime. Velma recalls a young man she supported years ago who still sends her a birthday card every year.
“To know someone remembers you like that…it means a lot.”
Because in the end, Velma says, it’s the people who make every day meaningful.
“Bancroft is family.”
Read Velma’s full story here.
Linda Miller, Therapeutic Activities Coordinator
Much has changed at Bancroft over 40 years, and Linda Miller has been part of it all.
When she first joined Bancroft in 1985 as a pottery teacher, Linda didn’t imagine that it would become her life’s work. More than four decades later, her days are still filled with creativity, community outings, and new experiences for the individuals she supports.
“This week we have pottery. Later in the week, we have the Philadelphia Flower Show and trips to the Franklin Institute. We’ll also be at a Saint Patty’s Day party on Sunday. So the weeks change as the seasons change, and as the interests of individuals change,” Linda says.
Today, she serves as Bancroft’s Therapeutic Activities Coordinator, but her career path has taken many turns along the way. From helping launch new programs to roles in HR, housing, and more, Linda says adaptability has always been part of the job.
Her inspiration through it all has been the people she’s met along the way. Linda keeps a scrapbook filled with meaningful moments and special individuals, including photos of projects and newspaper articles through the years. An artist herself, Linda has always used creativity to connect with the individuals she supports, from pottery and painting to projects and community outings that bring art to life.
When Linda first started at Bancroft, opportunities for community outings were far more limited than they are today. Disability services across the country were still evolving toward the community-based approach we know now.
“When I got hired, my dream was to have individuals out in the community,” Linda recalls. “I was walking through Haddonfield every day, which is a beautiful town, and I wanted them to experience it too.”
Over time, that dream became a reality, opening the door to many outings and creative projects that Linda still holds close to her heart. She has many special memories from those years, including meeting her husband while working together at Bancroft.
Looking toward the future, Linda says she is always watching for that spark of interest in newer staff. Spreading joy, being ready to learn something new, and leading with love are so important to what she does every day.
We think Margaret Bancroft would agree.
