Tom Miller becomes Campus School's new interim director

Chestnut Hill, Mass.— The Campus School at Boston College, which educates students ages 3 to twenty-one who face complex challenges and have unique learning needs, has named Tom Miller its interim director.

Miller has taught at Boston College's Lynch School of Education and Human Development for more than 15 years, and many of the Campus School's teachers and teacher assistants studied with him at the Lynch School's Severe Special Needs graduate program. Miller also previously served as director of the Educational Partnerships Program at Perkins School for the Blind, and as program director at the Northshore Education Consortium's Kevin O'Grady School, which serves students ages 3-22 with special needs, including visual and physical impairments and students on the autism spectrum.

"The Campus School is like a family, and my primary goal will be to continue to strengthen all of our partnerships with students, families, staff, and school districts to help all our students achieve their potential," Miller said.

The Campus School has an enrollment of 32 students who have multiple disabilities, including complex health care needs, and a staff of seven teachers, 15 Teacher Assistants, eight therapists, three nurses, and administrative staff.

"Over the 50 years since it was founded, The Campus School has created a unique environment to meet the specialized needs of students who require coordinated and comprehensive supports and opportunities to succeed,'' Miller added. "Being on the BC campus provides immeasurable benefits for the school: state-of-the-art facilities, teachers from the Lynch School, wonderful undergraduate 'buddy' volunteers who mentor and support our students, even being able to use the BC rink for broom hockey."

More than 300 BC undergraduates connect with The Campus School students every year, developing meaningful relationships and enriching their lives.
Miller's appointment as interim director has drawn widespread praise from parents of students at the school and special-education leaders.

"Tom's an experienced administrator known for his expertise in educational programming, and he has a strong reputation for listening to families and supporting teams and collaboration,'' said Susan M. Bruce, a professor at BC's Lynch School, and chair of its Teaching, Curriculum and Society department, and coordinator of its Program in Severe and Multiple Disabilities.

Carla Tacelli DiRuzza, parent of Christopher, who has been a student at The Campus School for more than 16 years, said, "I'm so excited to see Tom come on board and I know what a great leader, mentor, and teammate he'll be for the staff at The Campus School. The teachers, therapists and staff have always been there for our family through the roller-coaster ride of our lives. They celebrate the wonderful things alongside you and they are there in the midst of the difficult times to support you. I have always said that everyone who works at The Campus School are the angels among us. I know Tom will help ensure The Campus School continues to thrive and support children to learn and become their very best."

"Tom's an exceptional and gifted leader,'' said Ron Benham, former director of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health's Bureau of Family Health and Nutrition and the state's IDEA Part C Early Intervention Coordinator.

Miller noted that along with many other special-education schools, The Campus School has faced and met enormous challenges related to staying open during COVID-19, and as possible and appropriate, shifting some education and therapy to online video connections.

"As we begin to emerge from the worst of the pandemic, I'm excited to explore possible new ways for our students to take advantage of all the benefits of going to school on the BC campus,'' Miller said. "I'm also looking forward to creating new Professional Learning Communities to foster staff-based learning and the development of innovative strategies and practices. I also see many opportunities to explore collaborative partnerships with other members of our statewide network of special-education programs, the Massachusetts Association of Approved Schools (MAAPS). The commonwealth is blessed with a tremendous network of innovative schools serving students with special needs, and we and our students and parents can learn so much from each other.

"I'm mindful of how lucky I am to be the interim director for a school that is functionally strong and has such a rich and successful 50-year legacy,'' Miller added. "I'm really looking forward to continuing the important work of The Campus School and collaborating with our dynamic staff and wonderful families."