A ‘Special’ Educator Says Goodbye

By Larissa Lytwyn

After 26 years in the education field, Robert Chiappetta, Newtown’s director of pupil personnel services, is retiring.

“I have always been interested in teaching,” he said. “Special education seemed unusual or different.” Mr Chiappetta began his career in the Stamford education system for one year before relocating to Danbury and serving for eight years, eventually as principal, at a residential facility for special needs students in Pleasantville, N.Y.

When he first became director of pupil personnel services more than two decades ago, he said the special needs field was substantially smaller than it is today. “Now, 12 to14 percent of Newtown’s [5,400] students have been identified as having special needs,” he said. He believes that the rise can be at least partially attributed to the increase in media attention, earlier diagnosis by professionals, and the enactment of federal laws. Mr Chiappetta has worked with students experiencing everything from autism to learning disabilities to behavioral problems.

“Now, one of the school system’s biggest concerns is to be able to address the community’s increasing special education needs,” he said. Another issue, he continued, is the high number of lawsuits filed against Newtown schools contending that the system should fund education for local special needs students attending out-of-district programs. “There is,” he said, “a lot of litigation going on right now.

“One good thing that has been happening in the special education field,” he continued, “is that special needs are no longer considered a stigma.” At the same time, he noted, many students do not always believe they are capable of handling large tasks.

The town’s special education system aims to enable students. “I tell kids to take away the D’s from Disabled,” he said. “And what have you got? Is able. A lot of students feel like they can’t do something, when they can.”

Anne Stein, whose 13-year-old son Andrew is autistic, praised Mr Chiappetta’s commitment to the children. “He is extremely humble,” she said. Ms Stein, who is a language pathologist, added that since Mr Chiappetta began working with Andrew, his progress has been notable, especially in speech. “Mr Chiappetta has been an incredible asset to the special needs community,” she said. “And Andrew just loves him!”

Indeed, one of the biggest pleasures Mr Chiappetta said he enjoyed about his job was interacting with students. “They could always cheer me up,” he said. He also enjoyed hearing about onetime struggling students now pursuing successful careers as adults. One such student, he said, once beset with behavioral issues, is now attending law school.

“This [position] was a very large part of my life,” Mr Chiappetta noted. “There are close relationships I have formed here. There will be a lot of people I will miss.” He doubts he will ever leave the field completely.

For the moment, however, Mr Chiappetta says that he is looking forward to spending time at his property in Cape Cod and with his three children — two of whom are in the education field. “It’ll be great,” he said.