Goorevitch named Norwalk Special Education chief

NORWALK, Conn. —Norwalk Public Schools has a new leader for its Special Education department.

The Board of Education on Saturday unanimously approved the appointment of Yvette Goorevitch, M.Ed., to be the new Chief of Specialized Learning and Student Services.

“We are very pleased, honored really, to have somebody of her caliber and personal accomplishments join us in Norwalk,” Norwalk Superintendent of Schools Steven Adamowski said at the BoE special meeting in the Maritime Aquarium.

Goorevitch was named Special Education Administrator of the Year by the New York Council of Administrators of Special Education (NYCASE) in 2016. She comes to Norwalk after 26 years as the Director of Special and Alternative Education for the City of New Rochelle, N.Y.

BoE Chairman Mike Lyons mentioned Goorevitch’s degrees and her 2016 award, but commented that he was “most impressed” by a letter of recommendation from a New Rochelle Special Education parent because, “It’s clear that we need somebody who knows how to work with parents… when the angry parent writes the letter like that you have proven that you have the ability to work with our parents.”

The meeting followed day one of the BoE’s retreat, where Goorevitch made a “very detailed and forward looking presentation,” Lyons said.

“It was very encouraging to see that Yvette has already thoroughly studied things like the CREC (Capital Region Education Council) report, our three-year plan to rebuild Special Education, and was literally on the ground running before, as I said, we even voted,” Lyons said.

Goorevitch promised to make decisions for Norwalk children as if those decisions were being made for her own grandchild.

“I am really excited by the challenges and I am really inspired by your vision,” Goorevitch said. “So, I just thank you. I think with Dr. Adamowski’s leadership and your fabulous senior leadership team in Special Ed Department, we are poised to deliver the best services to specialized children in the state of Connecticut. I am really honored to be with you.”

An abridged version of Yvette Goorervitch’s resume:

September 1991 to present:

City School District of New Rochelle, NY Director of Special and Alternative Education

August 1987 to September 1991

District Administrator of Special Education

New York City Department of Education – District 7

September 1979 to July 1987

Chairperson – Committee on Special Education New York City Department of Education – District 7

1976-1977

Special Education Teacher – Readiness Program New York City Department of Education

1975-1977

Special Education Teacher

New York Department of Education

Educational preparation:

1981-1992, Advanced Ed.D Coursework, Teacher’s College, Columbia University, Supervision  and Administration

1981, M.Ed., Teacher’s College, Columbia University, Supervision  and Administration, Special Education

1978, M.S., Teacher’s College, Columbia University, Special Education

1975, B.S., Brooklyn College, Psychology

Professional Committee, Boards and Awards:

1980, President of CEC- Featherstone Chapter at Teacher’s College

1989-1990, Chairperson – New York City Board of Education Continuum Review Committee Appointed by the Commissioner to chair the committee including representatives from the State Education Department, Parents, Community Organizations and Union Representatives charged with developing programs for students with disabilities consistent with NYS Requirements.

1990-1992, Member, NYS Commissioner of Education’s Preschool Special Education Advisory

2010-2013, Co-President, Council of New York State Special Education

2013-2015, Treasurer, Council of New York State Special Education Adminstrators

2010-2015, Member, CASE National Board of Directors Member,

2013-2015, Member, New York State ESEA Waiver Committee

2013-2015, Member, NYS Coalition for Alternative Pathways to Graduation Committee

2013-Present, Member, Board of Trustee, Larchmont Temple

2013-Present, Chair, Ritual Committee, Larchmont Temple

2016, New York State Special Education Administrator of the Year (NY-CASE)

2017-Present, Member, State Rehabilitation Council -Appointed by Board of Regents