Danbury names new boardroom for longtime chair Gladys Cooper

Danbury Public Schools on Tuesday dedicated its new Board of Education meeting room in honor of Gladys Cooper, the district's long-serving board chair. The program included remarks from Superintendent Cara Casimero, former board members, representatives of the Connecticut Association of Boards of Education and city officials, and concluded with a mayoral proclamation and a state citation.

Superintendent Cara Casimero opened the ceremony by welcoming attendees and describing the room as the district's "brand new Board of Education space, this absolutely beautiful room." She praised Cooper's decades of service, saying Cooper had provided "stability" and "strong standing institutional knowledge" during frequent superintendent transitions and periods of fiscal and operational challenge.

Former board chair Ralph Petrafessa, Patrice McCarthy (executive director and general counsel of the Connecticut Association of Boards of Education), Mayor Roberto Alves, state Sen. Julie Kushner and other local and state officials spoke in support of Cooper. The mayor read a proclamation recognizing Cooper's "over 30 years of service to the Danbury [Board of Education], exemplifying leadership, dedication, and unwavering commitment to education," and the Connecticut General Assembly offered an official citation acknowledging the dedication of the Gladys Cooper Boardroom and Cooper's long service.

Reverend Dr. Chris Williams of New Hope Baptist Church offered closing remarks and prayer; Cooper then spoke briefly to thank colleagues, mentors and the community. The program concluded with a group photograph and the gathering then moved into the Board's regular meeting.

The dedication and citations do not create a policy change; they serve as recognition of Cooper's service to the district and community.