Kent Center School's principal to retire at end of next school year

KENT — Ron Viafore has been part of the Kent Center School community since 1979, as a teacher of grades three through eight, an assistant principal, and, for the last five years, as principal.

Viafore announced his retirement at a Board of Education meeting Thursday June 7 and sent a letter to parents the following day.

"For the past year, I have contemplated the idea of retirement and now it is official," the letter read. "It has truly been a rewarding experience to be a teacher, assistant principal and principal for this wonderful school community."

His retirement will take effect July 1, 2008.

While Viafore was born in New York, he has been in the area since he was a teen, graduating from Housatonic Valley Regional High School in 1974. After finishing college, Viafore had the opportunity to return to the Northwest Corner and took it. He has resided in Kent ever since.

"I’ve been in the area a long time," Viafore said. "It’s time for me to do something different and explore opportunities. My youngest son is going to be a senior in high school next year and I really want to spend more time with my family."

Patricia Chamberlain, superintendent of Region One schools, will oversee the hiring process for Viafore’s successor.

Under Viafore’s contract, he was required to give a one-year notice to administrators.

During the Board of Education meeting, Chamberlain also announced that Region One is currently looking into opportunities to establish a DORE Program, through an anonymous donation from a local benefactor.

The DORE Program, named after its founder, Wynford Dore, is an exercise-based course of treatment for dyslexia and other learning disabilities. It consists of a series of exercises, performed twice daily for 10-minute intervals, designed to develop the cerebellum of the brain. Students would also visit the Region One DORE center, tentatively planned to be at Kent Center School, every six months to monitor progress, Chamberlain said.

According to the program’s Web site, more than 50,000 children and adults worldwide have participated in the last five years.

"This program is very cutting edge," Chamberlain said. "And the equipment and specialists would be provided [through the donation]."

If adopted, the program will be free for any qualifying students in Region One.