Dr. Rui Dionisio, who has been Verona’s superintendent of schools since the 2014-2015 school year, will be leaving Verona this fall to lead the Ramapo Indian Hills Regional High School District. Ramapo Indian Hills made the announcement on its website this morning and you can read it here.
UPDATE: Verona Public Schools sent this message, signed by Dr. Dionisio, to staff and parents this morning:
Verona is a great place to learn, a great place to work, and a great place to live. Our family established roots in our close-knit, highly engaged community and our own children attended the Verona Public Schools. Over the past seven years, it has been an honor and privilege to have served as your Superintendent alongside our dedicated Board of Education with an exemplary leadership team and talented faculty. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of something bigger than myself in our partnership to strengthen and support our outstanding school system. Verona will always have a special place in my heart. It is, however, with bittersweet emotions that I share with you that I have accepted the offer to continue my professional journey and serve as Superintendent of Schools for the Ramapo Indian Hills Regional High School District.
The past seven years have been a consistent period of time that has enabled us to shape meaningful change yielding measurable achievements for Verona in strategic planning, social-emotional learning, curriculum & instruction, technology, finance, and capital improvements. Our school community has come together to advance a vision for what is possible when all of the oars are paddling in the same direction. We have supported our staff to achieve their individual potential so they may in turn do their most important work to inspire our students.
Many hands make light work. Our success is not the result of a one-hit-wonder but rather, the concerted effort of a community working together in unison to be a little bit better tomorrow than we were yesterday. Progress requires a shared vision, disciplined thought and action, and an ability to stay the course until we witness the fruits of our labor. I would like to extend my gratitude to all of our Board of Education members I have had the privilege of working with over the years for whom, if it were not for their support, the success we have realized would not have been possible. I am extremely appreciative of the vision and leadership of our current Board President, Mrs. Lisa Freschi, and former Board President, Mr. John Quattrocchi, whom both have dutifully served the Verona community for nearly 25 collective years. I have witnessed firsthand the values they espouse, their devotion to our community, and the efforts they impart that have undeniably and positively impacted our students and staff.
Each day I remind myself that in our schools, everything matters: how we advocate for our students, how we embrace innovation and devote ourselves to our craft, and how we speak and treat each other with respect. We are all role models for our children.
We have hired administrators and teachers fueled with passion who are tireless in meaningful pursuits. We have built collaborative teams and reflected on best practices to further student learning. In return, we have enhanced our reputation and nurtured a community of learners we can all be proud of.
Building a Better Verona has been our motto as we have invested time, talent, and treasure to improve the quality of teaching and learning. It has truly been a team effort and praise deserving of the educators who partnered with us to help bring to fruition the success we celebrate today. I am eternally grateful for your support.
In such communities where expectations are great, working together requires intent, process, perseverance, and heart. Verona has all of the key ingredients to continue to soar in the highly capable hands of a dedicated Board of Education, exceptionally brilliant and adept administrative leadership team, skilled and creative teachers and faculty, highly engaged and motivated students, and supportive parents and community members. Those who came before enabled us to carry the torch to where we are today. The next brick gets built on the foundation of what has already been poured. I will spend the next several months working with our Board to establish a seamless transition in district leadership to ensure continued progress for the Verona community.
Serving Verona has been a rewarding personal and professional experience for me. I will take with me the fondest memories and lifelong relationships we cultivated together as we played a pivotal role in the lives of our children. My enthusiasm for meeting the needs of students and staff is greater today than when I arrived. This is a testament to the inspiration I have garnered from the Verona community. Together we shared a vision and established purposeful, audacious goals that we delivered on with disciplined thought and action. Our results will have a positive impact and lasting effect for years to come. I am overwhelmed with pride for Verona. I am thankful for the opportunity to have worked with you. I have the utmost faith that the Verona Public Schools are poised to thrive with all of your efforts and commitment to making our school district one we can continue to be proud of.
