Rossman
Possible move played no role, leader says
UPDATED, April 12: Howard Rossman is stepping down as director of Dearborn Academy, a special-education therapeutic day school in Arlington that serves students in the greater Boston area, Schools for Children Inc. announced Monday, April 11.
Schools for Children has begun a search for Rossman’s replacement at Dearborn, and Rossman will continue to serve as director, as needed, through 2016.
“He was thinking about it for a long time, and he was ready to leave, Ted Wilson, president of Schools for Children, said Tuesday, April 12, in a brief interview. “He reached the point.”
Asked whether the possible move of Dearborn had any bearing on the resignation, Wilson said, “No.”
The Winchester-based nonprofit manages the Lesley Ellis School, among others. It has been reported seeking a new location for the private school after the Arlington School Committee last August began discussions about taking back the former Gibbs School, where Lesly Ellis has been since 1989. One possible location is Dearborn Academy, but as of the January report, as of the January report, Dearborn had no new home.
That situation remains as it has been, Wilson said.
The School Committee meets Thursday to discuss the educational aspects of two main options for dealing with enrollment expansion – renovations at the Ottoson and the former Gibbs.
“Throughout the past three decades Howard has dedicated himself to the Dearborn program and its students,” Ted Wilson, executive director, Schools for Children, said in a news release. “He has built a widely respected and stable leadership team at Dearborn that will welcome and support the school’s next director and will work together to see the Dearborn program thrive into the future.”
Rossman first joined Dearborn Academy as the clinical director in 1987 and became the school’s director in 1989. During his tenure, the release says, Rossman has worked to make sure that the school provides the highest quality services to students — a unique blend of academic and therapeutic programming– and to develop close working relationships with many Massachusetts school districts served by Dearborn Academy.
Early in his career, Rossman worked in public schools and mental health centers, and was a teaching fellow at Boston College. Rossman also has a private psychotherapy practice in Lexington and consults to public school programs. He has been a well-regarded speaker at schools and human service organizations and has served for many years on the board of directors of the Massachusetts Association of Approved 766-Approved Private Schools (maaps).
“It has been a great experience being the director of Dearborn Academy, and helping so many young people and families over the years,” Rossman said in the release. “I have also enjoyed getting to know our neighbors and others in the Town of Arlington. I am certain that our program will persist and continue in its mission for many years to come.”
Dearborn Academy is one of New England’s leading state-approved special education day schools, serving children with emotional, social and learning challenges in separate elementary/middle and high school programs. Learn more at www.dearbornacademy.org. It is situated on Winter Street in the former Crsoby School.
Schools for Children Inc. is a Massachusetts nonprofit organization creating and managing great schools and educational services, currently operating several schools, a before- and after-school program and a Short Term Educational Placement service. Schools for Children also develops new education services and innovations and consults with other schools, districts and human service providers to enhance the quality and performance of their programs.
Jan. 25, 2016: Lesley Ellis could move to Winter St., but Dearborn needs new home
This report was published Monday, April 11, 2016, and updated April 12, to add comment.
