To the Editor:

As former Superintendent of Schools in Newtown, I am writing in support of John Vouros for re-election to the Board of Education. My trust and respect for John began long before I became an administrator. John and I worked as educators early in my career in Newtown, nearly 32 years ago. Throughout the duration of our careers, we celebrated a mutual passion for the work we needed to do to support student learning, staff development, and the building of a positive district culture.

Part of his role as a Board member was to serve on the paraprofessional climate and culture committee, which helped to build stronger relationships and communication with our support personnel. John’s compassion for educators and families has been clearly visible in all his efforts throughout his tenure, and he has worked hard to understand diverse viewpoints, educational challenges, and ways the Board could address future programmatic needs.

John’s record as a dedicated member of the Board should be apparent to anyone living in the Newtown community. He was instrumental in supporting a host of district-wide improvements:

*School start time change

*Introduction of elementary Spanish

*Newtown High School renovations

*Gifted and Talented Program

*Project Adventure

*Director of Teaching and Learning

The initiatives John ushered to the finish line are now comfortably embedded in the culture of the district, and these will have a long-lasting and positive impact for students and staff in the years ahead. This is because John approaches everything he does from the heart. In a time when humanism and compromise in education have given way to anger, public debate, and political divisiveness — John will always be found rising above it all. His decisions (and voting record) have displayed his genuine passion for teaching and learning, but more importantly his deep and unwavering commitment to the students, staff, and families in Newtown.

Respectfully,

Dr Lorrie Rodrigue,

Retired Superintendent of Schools (Newtown)

Oxford