Last evening, the Questar III Board of Education accepted the resignation of Robin Sobol (for purposes of retirement), effective June 30, 2017. Sobol has served as the director of special education at Questar III since 2005.
District Superintendent Dr. Gladys I. Cruz said the organization will miss Sobol’s leadership.
“Robin has been a wonderful ambassador to our school districts and students for more than a decade. We look forward to working with her to plan for the end of this school year as well as prepare for the start of summer school and the 2017-2018 year,” Cruz said.
Cruz said the organization posted a job advertisement for a new director of special education, effective July 1, 2017.
“This is an extraordinary leadership position within our region. We will convene a committee to help the BOCES with finding its next special education leader,” Cruz said.
BOCES were originally formed in the late 1940s to provide special education programs. Today, special education remains the largest service within Questar III – about 32 percent of the organization’s overall budget. The director of special education works closely with various Questar III staff as well as school district directors, CSEs, superintendents and others.
The leadership transition comes at a busy time for Questar III. The organization is currently engaged in a review of its special education and career and technical education (CTE) programs.
Cruz also said the needs of special education students have also evolved in recent years.
“We are seeing more mental health needs at a younger age and being asked to provide more hands-on and work-related experiences to students. As we have done in the past, we will adapt and adjust to the changing needs of the districts, students and communities we serve,” said Cruz.
