Train and Sustain: Last school year, a handful of CTE directors from across our region worked with Mike Woods, director of the CTE Technical Assistance Center of New York (CTE TAC), to develop a program that would specifically address the certification needs of CTE teachers. Our pilot was held this August, and it allows CTE teachers pursuing initial teacher certification to take their required college coursework in a cohort fashion and have their education courses taught by CTE professionals, making sure the work is meaningful and specific to CTE instruction. Our very own Advanced Manufacturing instructor Pete Stone joined this program, and he is well on his way to earn his college requirements. The first session was a week-long intensive camp held at Oneida-Herkimer-Madison BOCES in August. Below is a picture of our first cohort from across the state and our own Pete Stone “graduating” from his week-long session.
What really makes Herkimer BOCES great is the people. We have dedicated instructors, therapists, counselors, business office staff, cafeteria staff, clerical staff and maintenance workers who truly define who we are as an organization. This year, technical programs welcome some incredibly talented new staff members. We are fortunate to have several accomplished educators join the technical education team this year. First, in VP-TECH/READiTEC math, we have Christopher Lee who joins our team with a long successful history of math instruction. Joining our Culinary and Hospitality program is chef Dominick Scalise, the longtime proprietor of Dominick’s Deli in Herkimer. Our Network Administration class is now headed by Jason Rearick, who has many years of experience working in computer networking and cyber security. New to our CTE team is Hilde Lowenstein who joins us as our ELA academic integration specialist. Laura Eysaman joins the Career & Technical Education office team as our new school counselor. She brings a wealth of experience in counseling working with students at all grade levels and in a host of settings. Last, but certainly not least, our ever-growing Cosmetology program has added two new teaching assistants, Ashley Warn and Kayla Monahan, who are both veteran hairstylists as well as having several years of educational experience.
HERO program receives NYSSBA Champions of Change award
The Herkimer BOCES Heavy Equipment Repair Operations program received a New York State School Boards Association Champions of Change award during the Herkimer BOCES Board of Education reorganization meeting on Thursday, July 11, in the Herkimer BOCES Gateway Center.
Herkimer BOCES Board of Education member and NYSSBA Area 5 Director William Miller presented the banner for the award to Heavy Equipment Repair Operations instructors Rick Reid and Jeffrey Weeks, Principal of Technical Education Sheri Perry and Director of School Services and Outreach Zane Mahar.
The instructors said they were surprised about winning the award but explained they have expanded the program both in terms of the number of students and what the students are learning. In June, 20 students graduated from the program, which goes by HERO for short. In the 2024-25 school year, there will be 30 seniors and 37 juniors in the program.
“Most of them will go right into well-paying jobs,” Reid said. “Some will go to college, but more will go into the workforce.”
The NYSSBA presentation kicked off the annual Herkimer BOCES Board of Education reorganization meeting, which also included swearing-in ceremonies for the board president, vice president and re-elected board members.
During the NYSSBA presentation prior to the swearing-in ceremonies, Miller spoke about how NYSSBA representatives take note of programs they hear about that are different than anything else they’ve seen and bring their recommendations to NYSSBA.
“They suggest the ones they think are really deserving of this type of award,” Miller said.
Miller said the HERO program stands out for reasons such as that it helps students go right into the workforce or get a head start on college or additional training.
NYSSBA officials were impressed, Miller said.
“They were just amazed by the program itself,” he said.
The award banner that the HERO program received can be beneficial as well when put on display in the classroom for visitors to see, Miller said.
“That gives that program a little boost, and when they see that, they’ll think this might be a pretty good program,” he said.
After receiving the award, Reid and Weeks reflected on their reactions when they first heard about winning it.
“I was kind of shocked. I didn’t expect it,” Reid said. “We have made a lot of changes though such as adding repair work.”
In addition to learning how to operate heavy machinery, HERO students now also learn more about repairing diesel engines, how to do diagnostics and more, the teachers said.
Weeks agreed that despite the instructors’ efforts to enhance the program, it still came as a surprise to be honored by the state.
“I was shocked,” Weeks said. “We just show up and do our jobs, and that’s just what it is.”
The Herkimer BOCES Heavy Equipment Repair Operations (HERO) program received a New York State School Boards Association Champions of Change award during the Herkimer BOCES Board of Education reorganization meeting on Thursday, July 11, in the Herkimer BOCES Gateway Center. From left: Herkimer BOCES Principal of Technical Education Sheri Perry, HERO instructor Jeffrey Weeks, HERO instructor Rick Reid, Herkimer BOCES Director of School Services and Outreach Zane Mahar and Herkimer BOCES Board of Education member and NYSSBA Area 5 Director William Miller.
