Need someone to fix your schedule? Need a pair of ears to listen? Or do you just need someone you can rely on in school? Darby Neff-Verre has played all of these roles and more.
As Coordinator of Guidance, Neff-Verre has impacted numerous people in her time at the high school. Her upcoming retirement was announced in early April after a decade-long career in this role. She will continue to work at the high school up until the end of the 2025 school year, whereafter the role will be transferred to Associate Dean Alexia Thomas.
While Neff-Verre’s decision to retire was prompted by her recent eligibility for a full pension after years working in the Brookline schools system, it was also driven by a desire to embrace a new chapter in her life.
“There’s a ton of things that I want to do, and I want to make sure I have the energy to do them in a retirement phase of my life,” Neff-Verre said.
According to social worker Paul Epstein, the faculty officially heard the news of Neff-Verre’s retirement earlier this year and it was a bittersweet moment. He said that it was sad to lose someone who led the department for so long, not just as a boss, but also as an advocate for students.
“No matter what the issue is, Darby was the one who gave a voice as the head to all of the parts of school that can be difficult for students,” Epstein said. “She always kept people like Mr. Meyer and other decision makers in the school aware of what kids need to really thrive in high school.”
Neff-Verre said when she first started at the high school, she saw a lot of ups and downs. She said that her goal was to make the most impact that she could and wants to leave behind a legacy of positivity.
“I think I’ve learned a lot about myself as a professional, but also truly as a person because of the connections I’ve made with students,” Neff-Verre said. “I also feel like through the challenges that I’ve had to manage over time as a professional, I have an inner core of integrity that I will carry with me for the rest of my life, and I know is truly important to who I am.”
Thomas said that there are not as many staff members in guidance and Neff-Verre worked hard to bring the department closer together.
“She’s been a great advocate for students and in helping students figure out what they need. She is super caring and thoughtful and [she] leads in that way. I would love to build upon what she started,” Thomas said.
According to Thomas, she feels like she is learning from Neff-Verre. Thomas said that through their conversations, she is feeling more prepared to step into her new role.
“I’m lucky. Whereas before I even applied, I talked with her about the role, what it entailed, and that kind of helped me decide to apply for it,” Thomas said. “I’m sure I will also look to get her advice next year when I’m in the role, even though she’ll be retired and enjoying life. But I’ll still give her a phone call and ask for her feedback.”
Neff-Verre took the initiative to improve the high school experience. According to Epstein, one of her initiatives was making sure there was a constant influx of snack donations from parents for hungry students.
“That sounds like a little thing, but we could easily have a department head who doesn’t do that,” Epstein said. “Would the school still run without snacks? Yes, it would. But did it enhance our ability to make kids feel comfortable here and give them food when they’re hungry, and probably help them focus better in class? Yes, it did. She’s always looking out for her counselors, students and social workers.”
Epstein also said that Neff-Verre is good at maintaining a work-life balance both for herself and her colleagues, and making sure that everyone felt appreciated and participated in team bonding.
“You need moments to break up the stress and to make it fun and remind everyone that we’re here not just to fulfill our job description, but also to enjoy each other’s company and keep it fun,” Epstein said. “She was very good at that departmental stuff. We would organize outings. We went to play top golf. It’s all [due to] her organizing that we’ve had backyard parties in her house with a hot tub.”
In her retirement, Neff-Verre said that she hopes to explore the world and spend quality time with family and friends. She said that she hopes she will have a lasting impact on the school community.
“I hope that they recognize that there was somebody that was kind of in [the students’] corner,” Neff-Verre said. “Quietly, but with a lot of passion, trying to make sure that students feel cared for, and that the stress levels and the mental health that students are experiencing was being addressed, even though it probably never feels like it’s enough.”
