Two highly-recognized educators chosen to lead Boston’s Special Education efforts
Contact Information:
BPS Communications Office 617-635-9265, communications@bostonpublicschools.org
February 26, 2010
Superintendent Carol R. Johnson last night announced two key staffing appointments related to Special Education services for Boston Public Schools (BPS). Concluding an extensive, nation-wide search, Dr. Johnson announced the appointment of John Verre as Assistant Superintendent of Special Education and Joan Anderson as Executive Director of Special Education.
“Both of these individuals bring a diverse and dynamic set of skills to the Boston Public Schools,” said Dr. Johnson. “We recognize that strong leadership and support for our school leaders and teachers in the area of Special Education is paramount and that is why we are so fortunate to have been able to recruit these two accomplished educators to our district.”
The recruiting process to bring these educators to BPS included substantial input from parents and staff through community meetings and interviews. Mr. Verre and Dr. Anderson will assist Dr. Johnson in the implementation of the five-year Acceleration Agenda, presented in November to the Boston School Committee. The appointments follow an audit, commissioned by the Superintendent, of Special Education services within Boston by the Council of Great City Schools. The report made recommendations regarding many aspects of the department and district policies.
Mr. Verre returns to the Boston Public Schools after serving as the founder and first principal of the McKinley Schools for students with socio-emotional-behavioral disabilities from 1978 to 1991. He has since served as an educational and organizational consultant, providing technical assistance and support to state departments of education, school districts, and other organizations and agencies in areas such as civil rights and regulatory compliance, program evaluation and development, and organizational assessment. After six years of experience supporting agencies and corporations across the country, he founded the non-profit COMPASS Consulting in 1997. From 1993 to 2009, Mr. Verre was the Co-Chair of the Harvard Institute on Critical Issues in Urban Special Education. Prior positions include teacher and counselor in Cambridge and New York. Mr. Verre holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Trinity College, a Masters in Education from Lesley University, and a Masters in Administration from Harvard University Graduate School of Education.
“I am honored and excited to be returning to the Boston Public Schools to serve the students and families of our city,” said Mr. Verre. “I believe strongly that students with disabilities can achieve at very high levels and it is our job to support them on that journey. I look forward to collaborating with these students and parents in the weeks and months ahead and I am grateful that I will be able to do this important work with Joan Anderson at my side.”
Dr. Anderson currently serves as Senior Director of Special Education Services for Norfolk Public Schools in Virginia. In this position she has reorganized the department to focus on instructional support. Prior positions include Special Education Supervisor, Child Development Specialist, Early Childhood Special Educator, and Speech/Language Pathologist, all in Newport News, Virginia. Dr. Anderson also serves as adjunct faculty at Norfolk State University. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Masters degree from Hampton University in Communication Disorders, as well as doctoral degrees from George Washington University in Administration and Leadership and Policy Studies.
“The Boston Public Schools are in a great position to serve students who require Special Education services,” said Dr. Anderson. “We recognize there is much work to be done and our mission to provide the best support available to our students is clear.”
Special Education Senior Director Carolyn Riley recently announced her retirement after more than 30 years of dedicated service to BPS.
“Both of these individuals bring a diverse and dynamic set of skills to the Boston Public Schools,” said Dr. Johnson. “We recognize that strong leadership and support for our school leaders and teachers in the area of Special Education is paramount and that is why we are so fortunate to have been able to recruit these two accomplished educators to our district.”
The recruiting process to bring these educators to BPS included substantial input from parents and staff through community meetings and interviews. Mr. Verre and Dr. Anderson will assist Dr. Johnson in the implementation of the five-year Acceleration Agenda, presented in November to the Boston School Committee. The appointments follow an audit, commissioned by the Superintendent, of Special Education services within Boston by the Council of Great City Schools. The report made recommendations regarding many aspects of the department and district policies.
Mr. Verre returns to the Boston Public Schools after serving as the founder and first principal of the McKinley Schools for students with socio-emotional-behavioral disabilities from 1978 to 1991. He has since served as an educational and organizational consultant, providing technical assistance and support to state departments of education, school districts, and other organizations and agencies in areas such as civil rights and regulatory compliance, program evaluation and development, and organizational assessment. After six years of experience supporting agencies and corporations across the country, he founded the non-profit COMPASS Consulting in 1997. From 1993 to 2009, Mr. Verre was the Co-Chair of the Harvard Institute on Critical Issues in Urban Special Education. Prior positions include teacher and counselor in Cambridge and New York. Mr. Verre holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Trinity College, a Masters in Education from Lesley University, and a Masters in Administration from Harvard University Graduate School of Education.
“I am honored and excited to be returning to the Boston Public Schools to serve the students and families of our city,” said Mr. Verre. “I believe strongly that students with disabilities can achieve at very high levels and it is our job to support them on that journey. I look forward to collaborating with these students and parents in the weeks and months ahead and I am grateful that I will be able to do this important work with Joan Anderson at my side.”
Dr. Anderson currently serves as Senior Director of Special Education Services for Norfolk Public Schools in Virginia. In this position she has reorganized the department to focus on instructional support. Prior positions include Special Education Supervisor, Child Development Specialist, Early Childhood Special Educator, and Speech/Language Pathologist, all in Newport News, Virginia. Dr. Anderson also serves as adjunct faculty at Norfolk State University. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Masters degree from Hampton University in Communication Disorders, as well as doctoral degrees from George Washington University in Administration and Leadership and Policy Studies.
“The Boston Public Schools are in a great position to serve students who require Special Education services,” said Dr. Anderson. “We recognize there is much work to be done and our mission to provide the best support available to our students is clear.”
Special Education Senior Director Carolyn Riley recently announced her retirement after more than 30 years of dedicated service to BPS.
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