John Verre, special education ombudsman, was among several officials who left Darien Public Schools at the end of the school year.
On June 23, at the last Board of Education meeting, the board heard statements from board members and sometimes from people in the community praising and giving a farewell to various officials who were stepping down.
John Verre, former Darien special education ombudsman, wearing his \”Super John\” cape and carrying the superhero uniform Board of Education member Callie Sullivan gave him as a gag gift on his leaving his position in Darien.
Board member Callie Sullivan made this statement about Verre, (she also presented Verre with a Superman cape and uniform; he briefly wore the cape):
Faster than a speeding PPT! Able to leap tall IEPs in a single bound — It’s a bird! It’s a plane! NO! It’s Super John!
When John Verre arrived on the scene in Darien in October of 2013, we were only in need of a super hero. Someone who could listen without judging, help without condescending, communicate without confusing. Create community without politicizing.
Was this even possible? Could all these skills be possessed by one mere human? Probably not … but Darien was in luck — because we got Super John!!!
Board of Education member Callie Sullivan with a superhero uniform she gave to John Vere, departing special education ombudsman for Darien Public Schools.
John, your thoughtful, humble demeanor, razor-sharp mind and experience-driven can-do attitude lifted all of us up, and enabled us to see the future in a light which celebrates and challenges each and every child’s learning potential.
And for that we are deeply, deeply grateful. We know you are going to land feet first, eyes wide open, mind attuned and ready for the next challenge in yet another fortunate community.
We wish you well, our Super John! Thank you for helping to fix Darien when we needed it most.