The need for greater early childhood education is growing and Nassau
BOCES is at the forefront. Its third annual Learning in the Early Years
conference, to be held Thursday, March 25, at Hofstra University, will bring
together educators and caregivers from across the island to address the
educational needs of children from birth to age 6.
The conference continues its tradition of presenting the most current
information from leading researchers of early childhood development and
learning. And, it does so in very practical, concrete terms so families,
schools and communities may benefit directly.
A panel of seven experts representing various fields of early learning will
be led by world renowned expert Dr. Craig T. Ramey. His research in this
field at Georgetown University has yielded many hands-on approaches which
will be shared with conference attendees.
During the conference, attendees will attend workshops that address early
learning from different vantage points — allowing them to customize the
conference to their specific interests. Workshop leaders include
representatives from the most proactive early childhood organizations on
Long Island.
In addition, more than 20 organizations in the bi-county area concerned
about the education of young children have stepped up to support the
Learning in the Early Years conference. Representatives from these
organizations will be on hand to network with attendees and provide details
about the resources and services they offer.
Even business groups are now taking notice of the need for the best possible
education for children during their earliest years. America's Edge, a
business group most concerned about ensuring the future of America's
workforce, has signed on in support of the conference. Further, it is
underwriting a special event to take place at the Nassau BOCES Joseph M.
Barry Career and Technical Education Center (Barry Tech) on the evening
before the conference.
All are invited to register for the Learning in the Early Years conference.
For more information, please review the brochure and registration form.
>>Added 2/5/09
Nassau BOCES to celebrate staff members' tenure
The agency's inaugural tenure celebration on Thursday, Feb. 4, will serve as
a tribute to the accomplishments of 58 staff members who reached this
milestone within the last six months.
From school principals, program supervisors and support personnel to
teachers, guidance counselors and information technology technicians,
honorees will represent a wide spectrum of job titles and responsibilities.
In all, Nassau BOCES relies on more than 4,000 employees – its most
important asset in meeting school district needs.
"When an employee earns tenure, it is reason to celebrate," says Stephen B.
Witt, president of the Nassau BOCES Board. "All too often, this milestone
passes without the recognition it deserves. Our inaugural event will be a
reflective and inspirational tribute to those who have made a significant
commitment to this agency."
Initiated by the Nassau BOCES Board, the recognition ceremony is scheduled
to include performances by Long Island High School for the Arts' singers,
desserts by Barry Tech's culinary artists and buttons created by youngsters
at the Rosemary Kennedy School. It will begin at 6:30 p.m. at the Nassau
BOCES Administrative Center in Garden City.
>>Added 1/29/09
Budget Review Committee meeting: Jan. 26
The Nassau BOCES Budget Review Committee will meet on Tuesday, Jan. 26, at
the Nassau BOCES Administrative Center, 71 Clinton Road, Garden City. The
meeting will begin at 7:30 p.m.
The Budget Review Committee is formed by Nassau BOCES to assist in the
development of its 2010-11 budgets.
"Nassau BOCES develops and adopts approximately 30 budgets each year — one
for each of its programs or operating units," says Stephen B. Witt,
president of the Nassau BOCES Board. "We wish to involve the local boards of
education to the greatest extent possible in this process."
Representatives will have the opportunity to review all Nassau BOCES budgets
for next year in advance of the Nassau BOCES Annual Meeting on Thursday,
April 8. The Nassau BOCES administrative budget will be voted on by local
boards of education during the week of April 19.
Committee members
(updated Jan. 22):
Michaelene Abbott-Cooper, trustee, East Rockaway Public Schools
Amy Beyer, trustee, North Shore Public Schools
Alicemarie Bresnihan, trustee, Lynbrook Public Schools
Laura Brown, trustee, Garden City Public Schools
Paul Baumgarten, representative, Manhasset Public Schools
Elizabeth Cole, representative, Manhasset Public Schools
Paul Ehrbar, trustee, Herricks Public Schools
Wilhelmina Funderburke, trustee, Roosevelt Public Schools
Annette Giarratani, trustee, New Hyde Park-Garden City Park Public
Schools
Marc W. Herman, president, Syosset Public Schools
Susan Hlavenka, assistant superintendent for business, Island Trees
Public Schools
Sheri Iskenderian, trustee, Merrick Public Schools
Harold Kislik, trustee, Hewlett-Woodmere Public Schools
Mary Lowe, trustee, Plainedge Public Schools
Thomas Maimone, representative, Manhasset Public Schools
Jim Mattel, trustee, Oyster Bay-East Norwich Public Schools
Therese McSweeney, representative, Manhasset Public Schools
April M. Neuendorf, vice president, Syosset Public Schools
Joanne Panzarella-Piluso, representative, Manhasset Public Schools
Douglas Pascarella, trustee, Plainedge Public Schools
Ellen Ritz, president, East Williston Public Schools
Frank Scott, trustee, Roosevelt Public Schools
William P. Stris, trustee, Valley Stream #13 Public Schools
Deniece Walker, trustee, Elmont Public Schools
James P. Ward, trustee, Levittown Public Schools
Stephen G. Wilson, vice president, Farmingdale Public Schools
Jacques Wolfner, representative, Plainview-Old Bethpage Public Schools
>>Added 1/22/09
Long Island High School for the Arts alums star
in off-Broadway teen musical
"Most Likely To: The Senior
Superlative Musical" featured a cast made up entirely of Long
Island High School for the Arts alumni.
Thirteen students from the Nassau BOCES
Long Island High School for the Arts (LIHSA) classes of 2008 and 2009
are taking to the stage at New York’s historic Players Theatre in Greenwich
Village. The talented and passionate all-alumni cast is back for an encore
showcase of "Most Likely To: The Senior Superlative Musical."
"Most Likely To ..." opens Saturday, Jan. 16, and runs through Sunday, Jan.
24, for five performances. Tickets and a complete schedule of show times are
available at
theatermania.com.
Written and composed by LIHSA drama teacher and established playwright
Michael Tester, and directed by LIHSA teacher Abbe Gail Gross, "Most Likely
To …" offers a fresh alternative to teen musicals while showcasing LIHSA's
talented alumni. The all-teen cast and their home towns are: Andrew J. Beck
and Gina Marie Bilardi, Bethpage; Dee Brown, Long Beach; Samantha Chastain,
Locust Valley; Alex Greif, Lynbrook; Christopher Hlinka, Northport; Katie
Hoffmann, Massapequa; Lyle Colby Mackston, West Hempstead; Melissa Rapelje,
Glen Cove; Lauren Renner and Joe Weggman, Harborfields; Sarah Sixt, Locust
Valley; and Jessie Zeidman, Port Washington.
Tester, who also authored "Hollywood Exposed!" and co-authored "The Awesome
'80s Prom," exemplifies the dedication of the LIHSA staff – all experienced
performers and artists who bring impressive real-world credentials to their
classrooms.
>>Added 1/15/10
Nassau BOCES welcomes new district superintendent
Dr. Thomas
L. Rogers joined Nassau BOCES on Tuesday, Jan. 19, as its new
district superintendent.
Dr. Thomas L. Rogers took the helm at Nassau BOCES on Tuesday, Jan. 19,
when he officially started as district superintendent.
Rogers assumes responsibility for leading the largest BOCES in New York,
serving the 56 school districts in the county, which enroll 212,000
students. As district superintendent, he also represents the
commissioner of education and the State Education Department in their work
with the school districts of Nassau County.
Nassau BOCES employs 4,315 staff members who work on 20 campuses throughout
the county, housing 4,778 BOCES students, including 1,306 Nassau County
adults enrolled in a variety of literacy, career and technical programs. In
addition to its nationally-known programs in special education and career
and technical education, Nassau BOCES also provides a variety of technical
support programs for local school districts, including electronic and
assistive technology, in-service training for staff, interscholastic
athletics, public communications, data warehousing and analysis, distance
education, cooperative bidding and purchasing, and a variety of other
services that can be offered more efficiently and less expensively through
Nassau BOCES than by the school districts acting independently.
Since 1993, Rogers has provided leadership for the New York State Council of
School Superintendents in Albany, serving as its executive director for the
past six years. Prior to that, Rogers was a program associate in the New
York State Senate Majority Program Office, where he worked on a wide variety
of public policy issues. In his work for the Council of School
Superintendents, Rogers led the transformation of a traditional membership
association into a public policy advocacy think tank that emphasizes
professional development for all school superintendents and other school
district administrators in New York.
His recent work as a co-founder of Public Schools For Tomorrow, a newly
formed organization of public school leaders seeking to reassert a strong
professional presence in state and federal policy discussions, has kept him
in the forefront of trends in classroom instruction and measurement.
Rogers received a Master of Arts and a Doctor of Education from Teachers
College at Columbia University, and a Bachelor of Science degree cum laude
from the University of Buffalo. He is the author of several publications,
has lectured at the College of St. Rose on educational leadership and public
communications, and serves on the boards of several education-related
organizations.
>>Added 1/15/10
It's never too late to find the artist within —
sign up for adult courses at the Long Island High School for the Arts
Whether you’re a budding artist or merely up for something new and
different, spend your Tuesday evenings exploring your creative side at the
Long Island High School for the Arts (LIHSA) in Syosset.
The school is opening its doors to the community by offering 17 unique and
interesting classes this spring as part of its Arts for Adults program. New
classes include: Singers Studio Collective, which focuses on the basics of
commercial pop and jazz vocal production; Un Poquito de Español – A little
bit of Spanish, where participants have fun learning conversational Spanish
through cooking, films, music, literature, dancing and art; and Ballroom
Dancing, where you can energize both your mind and body in your favorite
dancing shoes.
Additional offerings focus on the basics of guitar or other instruments,
poetry writing, film history (which highlights Hollywood’s Golden Age),
acting techniques, stage lighting, photography, drawing, painting, body
conditioning and Broadway dance styles. No matter where your talents or
aspirations lie, there’s bound to be a class for you.
Download the brochure for a full schedule of courses, or call
516-622-5678 to request one by mail. Register in person Monday-Friday from 8
a.m.-4 p.m., by phone or by mail. Courses run for an eight-week session on
Tuesday evenings from 7-8:30 p.m. or 8:30-10 p.m. Spring classes begin on
Tuesday, Feb. 9.
Nassau BOCES is part of the public school system, and its Long Island High
School for the Arts has been offering intensive training in the visual and
performing arts for more than 35 years. Students from both Nassau and
Suffolk counties may attend and can choose to major in art, dance, drama,
theatre technology, instrumental or vocal music, musical theatre, film or
playwriting. Many attend for half the school day, taking academic courses at
their home high schools; others enroll full time and take all of their
academic courses for high school graduation at LIHSA. More than 90 percent
of the graduates go on to colleges or conservatories, including the
Juilliard School, Boston Conservatory and the American Academy of Dramatic
Arts (just to name a few).
>>Added 1/15/10
Volunteer judges needed for 'Odyssey of the Mind'
Odyssey of the Mind challenges
children to solve a range of unique problems fostering both
creativity and problem-solving skills.
Nassau BOCES is seeking judges for "Odyssey of the Mind," a creative
problem-solving tournament for students in grades 3-12. This year's
competition will be held Saturday, March 6, at the Nassau BOCES Rosemary
Kennedy Center in Wantagh.
Volunteer judges will evaluate student performances based on how they apply
their knowledge, skills and talents to the various challenges. No special
qualifications are needed. A judges' training session will be held in
February at the Nassau BOCES Administrative Center in Garden City.
Sponsored by Nassau BOCES Instructional Programs and Alternative Schools,
this regional tournament attracts more than 600 crafty youngsters from
public and non-public schools throughout Long Island, New York City and
Westchester. Students participate in months of problem-based learning prior
to the competition. Challenges range from building mechanical devices to presenting their own
interpretations of literary classics.
Anyone interested in being a judge should contact Carolyn Yohannes at 516-396-2396 or
cyohanne@mail.nasboces.org.
College prep opens doors for special education
students
Nassau BOCES offers college course at high school thanks to
collaboration with Nassau Community College
Many students
attending Nassau BOCES high schools are starting their college experiences a
little early thanks to a collaboration between the agency and Nassau
Community College (NCC). These seniors are taking a one-credit course
focused on how to adapt successfully to college life.
The idea was the brainchild of Nassau BOCES Alternative Learning Program
(ALP) Principal Steven L. Sitkoff and the program's psychologist, Dr. Linda
Lopez. ALP is a high school program for students who have average or
above-average intellectual potential but have learning or emotional
disabilities that cause them to have difficulty relating to a traditional
high school environment.
The program has an impressive record of success, with most students
graduating with high school diplomas and more than half going on to four- or
two-year colleges.
"However, the students were often worried and nervous about the next step
after graduation and needed extra help with the skills necessary in a
college setting," says Sitkoff. "The natural solution was to turn to
longtime education partner NCC."
For years, ALP has been sending some of its most exceptional students to NCC
for one or two classes. Now, Sitkoff asked the college to come to them.
Eleven students from the four high school programs in the Department of
Special Education participated in the program's pilot class, which was
taught at the Nassau BOCES Greenvale Center by a veteran NCC professor.
Several of these students are now college freshman.
A freshman seminar offered to all incoming students at NCC, "The College
Experience," also teaches students how to make social connections and manage
academics along with other responsibilities such as laundry and dealing with
a budget.
Learning how to live without a built-in support system was key for Katherine
Cortali, an NCC freshman. "I learned how to be my own advocate," she said.
"If I had a question, I had to go meet with my professor — to be the one to
make the decisions and do what was best for me."
In addition to students from ALP, the course is open to seniors from the
Nassau BOCES Center for Community Adjustment in Wantagh, the Hearing and
Vision Services program in East Meadow and the Career Preparatory High
School in Westbury.
Seventeen students have already signed up for the spring session.
>>Added 1/8/10
Barry Tech students earn Statesman Awards
At the New York State SkillsUSA Leadership Conference in Liverpool, N.Y.,
seven Barry Tech students earned Statesman Awards for demonstrating their
leadership skills through a variety of team activities.
The annual conference is a collaboration of students, teachers and industry
leaders working toward providing a skilled workforce for America's future.
The students, along with their home schools and courses of study, are:
Kristi Confortin, East Meadow High School, veterinary science
Dena Elsayed, North Shore High School, cosmetology
Marshall Goldstein, Plainview-Old Bethpage John F. Kennedy High
School, culinary arts
Mike Jean-Batiste, Freeport High School, physical therapy aide
Angela Moore, Baldwin Senior High School, physical therapy aide
Ashley Skeffrey, Baldwin Senior High School, pharmacy technician
Dena Sotiriou, Syosset High School, culinary arts
The seven teens who attended the conference, along with the other members
of the Barry Tech SkillsUSA team, will continue to put their leadership
talents into practice during a series of SkillsUSA competitions, with the
eventual goal of attending the National Leadership and Skills Conference in
June.
From teenagers earning certification as computer network technicians to
adults learning new trades, the Nassau BOCES Department of Career and
Technical Education gives people the skills they need for success in the
workplace. Each year, thousands of high school and adult students attend
classes at Barry Tech, the state-of-the-art career and technical education
center in Westbury, and other locations. Specialized job training services
for adults with disabilities as well as English as a second language (ESL)
and basic education classes for adults new to our country, also are offered
at St. Bernard’s School in Levittown.
>>Added 1/8/10
Explore a new career at Nassau BOCES Adult Evening
Program
Cosmetology students get
hands-on experience at Nassau BOCES Adult Evening Program in
Westbury.
Adults interested in exploring new careers or upgrading their skills are
invited to the Nassau BOCES Adult Evening Program open house. The doors will
open to the public on Wednesday, Jan. 6, from 7-9 p.m. at the Joseph M.
Barry Career & Technical Education Center (Barry Tech), 1196 Prospect
Avenue, Westbury, NY.
Prospective students will have the opportunity to discuss programs and
career opportunities with instructors and tour the state-of-the-art
facilities, classrooms and shops. Training is available in more than 50
fields ranging from automotive and computer technologies to health
occupations, cosmetology and construction trades. Upon successful completion
of required program sequences, participants receive certificates attesting
to their achievements.
"It's a chance to meet our teachers. They are the key to our program's
success," says Rick Polansky, Adult Evening Program supervisor. "They bring
years of field experience to the classroom, and students really benefit from
their expertise."
According to Polansky some of the most popular courses this year include
Pharmacy Technician, Cosmetology, Computer Repair, Welding, Dental
Assistant, Certified Nurse Assistant and Personal Trainer.
Visit the program's Web
site for a complete list of courses, or call 516-622-6950 to receive a
free catalog or for directions to Barry Tech.
>>Added 12/23/09
Students and faculty at Adult Learning Center
spread holiday joy to underdeveloped countries
Students and staff at
the Nassau BOCES Adult Learning Center in Levittown filled nearly
100 shoe boxes with much-needed items for children in underdeveloped
countries. The project, called Operation Christmas Child, is run by
the Samaritan's Purse International Relief organization.
When Antionette Molinelli asked her students at the Nassau BOCES
Adult Learning Center
to participate in a project to help impoverished children during the
holidays, she was overwhelmed by the response.
"It's been amazing … The students just keep bringing in boxes filled with
items ready to go out to 'third-world' countries," Molinelli said.
About 140 students at the Adult Learning Center in Levittown opened their
hearts and filled their shoe boxes for Operation Christmas Child, a service
project organized by Samaritan's Purse International Relief. Students
selected a gender and age category, and then packed the shoe boxes with
items such as school supplies, hygiene items or small toys.
Adult educator Lynn Filazolla, who coordinates the annual community projects
for the ALC faculty and staff, viewed the project as an opportunity to
foster teamwork among the diverse student body. The students worked together
to fill and wrap shoe boxes with donated items, as well as compose a
personal note to each child.
"Everyone helped and contributed," said Lucia Gallardo, from Columbia, who
studies English at the Adult Center. "I'm excited to know we are sending
[these boxes] to countries where they will make the children happy. The kids
are going to feel great when they open them up."
Nearly 100 shoe boxes were filled and dropped off at a local collection
center in time to be delivered before Christmas. Most of the students who
participated in the project are new to this country and are enrolled in the
English as a Second Language, Adult Basic Education or General Equivalency
Diploma (GED) programs.
"The children will be smiling when they open the packages," said Phil
Parris, who is working toward his GED after coming to the United States from
Jamaica one year ago. "It makes me feel good to help."
"The students were excited and wanted to participate," Molinelli added.
"They were very generous and very willing to show that they care."
>>Added 12/23/09
Barry Tech salutes its industry partners
Police Science and
Criminal Justice instructor Michael Golod (left) thanks Officer Dan
Johannessen of the Nassau County Police Department — just one of
Barry Tech's many regional business partners.
View a list of partners.
At its annual Industry Partners recognition luncheon, Barry Tech honored
more than 75 business leaders for their support of cooperative education and
work-based learning. Nassau BOCES administrators and Board members joined
Barry Tech teachers and faculty in welcoming their esteemed guests.
For more than 10 years, the cooperative education and work-based learning programs of
the Nassau BOCES Joseph M. Barry Career and Technical Education Center
(Barry Tech) have partnered with more than 800 Long Island businesses to
provide students with the experiences and skills needed to compete in the
workplace. They range from neighborhood dog grooming services to national
operations such as JetBlue Airways, BMW of North America, MTV and the
American Culinary Federation.
To find out more about the work-based learning program, or to view a list of
business partners, visit
Barry Tech's Web site.
>>Added 12/14/09
Sweet success for Career Preparatory High School students
The annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day
Parade received an "extremely sweet" makeover from culinary
arts students at the Nassau BOCES Career Preparatory High School. Click here to enlarge this image.
Where would you find a Thanksgiving Day parade that's just as colorful as
New York City's — and a whole lot sweeter?
This confectionary cavalcade originated in our Career Preparatory High
School's kitchen and won second place in the Valley Stream Historical
Society's annual gingerbread house contest and bake sale.
Ten young chefs crafted the seasonal dessert — a tribute to New York's
annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade — in a project that called on the
teens' baking skills and artistic talents. True to the holiday tradition,
their gingerbread procession began with Tom Turkey's float and ended with
Santa's sleigh. They even included a SpongeBob SquarePants balloon among the
candy clowns and parade-goers in front of Macy's department store in Herald
Square.
Culinary arts teacher Diane Whitman was on hand to accept the historical
society's award on behalf of her class.
The Career Preparatory High School is an alternative high school that
focuses on the social, emotional, prevocational and academic needs of
students. This special education school provides a supportive atmosphere
where students are encouraged to make the transition to a productive
adulthood by developing self-esteem and by raising their own expectations
for success in the future. Students also have the opportunity to participate
in prevocational programs, such as food trades, automotive technology and
woodshop.
>>Added 12/14/09
Homeless students on the rise
Nassau BOCES provides training on the regulations governing their
education
As Nassau County jumps to second place in the state for foreclosure filings,
school districts are facing another growing problem — homeless children and
how to serve them. Nassau BOCES, which has long offered school districts
guidance on the legal requirements associated with homeless students, is
offering a special training session on Dec. 11 at the Administrative Center
in Garden City.
Due to the recession, there have been nearly 3,000 foreclosures in Nassau
County this year alone, according to the New York State Banking Department.
There has been a 30- to 40-percent increase in the homeless population since
2007, according to the Nassau County Department of Housing and Homeless
Services.
According to Dr. Laura Lustbader, coordinator of the Nassau BOCES
McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act grant, there is a high turnover rate
for local education agency (LEA) liaisons, a legally mandated school
district position responsible for identifying "temporarily housed youths"
and making sure they receive educational services. Often, the new liaisons
need help navigating all of the regulations.
"The federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act entitles all homeless
children to a free, appropriate public education and requires schools to
remove barriers to their enrollment, attendance or success in school," says
Lustbader.
Under McKinney-Vento, a student is designated as homeless if he lacks a
"fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence." This includes children
living in hotels, cars, public spaces, or emergency or transitional housing,
and even those sharing a house with family or friends due to economic
hardship.
Making sure that districts understand the law and how to apply it is
important, Lustbader adds, because these children are "often traumatized and
need stability as soon as possible. Many have big gaps in their learning and
chronic reading problems. Often, schools don't know how to help these
children, and the families don't know what kind of help they can receive."
School district registration policies often require proofs of residency,
birth certificates and immunization records — items that many homeless
families do not have. "If those who are temporarily homeless are not aware
of the law or have not sought help, they are unaware that these policies do
not apply to them," Lustbader said. "One of the LEA liaison's
responsibilities is working with local agencies such as Social Services to
identify homeless children living within their districts."
The Dec. 11 training session will provide LEA liaisons with an overview of
the laws and regulations. For more information, contact Lustbader at
llustbad@mail.nasboces.org. When requested, she also provides site visits to
school districts.
Lustbader refers LEA liaisons with questions about legal requirements to the
New York State Technical & Education Assistance Center for Homeless Students
Web site, www.nysteachs.org.
>>Added 11/30/09
New digital multimedia lab brings music
to students' — and teachers' — ears
Teacher, facilitator and
award-winning composer Chris Mangum presents a lesson to
students in the Long Island High School for the Arts' new multimedia
production lab.
Ever thought it would be fun to create a soundtrack for your life? Students
at Nassau BOCES Long Island High School for the Arts (LIHSA) are giving it a
try. This year, the school opened a multimedia production lab that allows
students to compose music and create digital portfolios as well as a
multitude of other projects. The lab has 18 iMacs packed with a variety of
music composition and digital editing software applications.
LIHSA is Nassau BOCES' high school program that offers intensive training in
the visual and performing arts. Students from both Nassau and Suffolk
counties can attend, with the choice to major in art, dance, drama, theatre
tech, instrumental or vocal music, musical theatre or creative writing.
LIHSA teachers can use the lab to supplement their curricula with
interactive lessons. For example, participants in LIHSA's dance program can
create their own accompaniment music, or record themselves practicing and
use the new equipment to edit it.
"We are very excited about the possibilities," said Chris Mangum, the lab
manager and an Emmy-award-winning composer. He hopes that districts from
throughout Nassau County will use the facility as well. "We can create
programming that supports teachers' existing curricula. For example, if
students are learning about Egypt, they can come here to record a song about
what they are learning."
Mangum said using the arts and digital technology to convey a lesson often
allows teachers to engage hard-to-reach students. "Music is a great way to
connect with all kinds of students," he said, "especially those who don't
usually have positive academic experiences."
He also stressed the importance for all students to develop digital skill
sets. "They are important for every job," he said. "The more they know, the
better they can communicate. We want to encourage innovation and create
critical thinkers."
Teachers interested in coming to the lab should reach out to Mangum at
516-622-5678.
"Finding LIHSA is a high point of my career," said Mangum, who is a working
artist. He has composed music themes for film and television for nearly 20
years, including National Geographic specials and Discovery Channel's "Shark
Week." "It's the best place I could imagine teaching. Every student wants to
be here."
>>Added 11/20/09
Local educators discuss success in the
21st-century classroom
Using laptops and cell
phones, Technology Summit attendees were "hyperconnected" to
conference content through Facebook, Twitter and a central Web site
(above). Mark Pasciuti from Nassau BOCES explores the many
educational applications of Google Earth (below).
More than 400 educators from across Long Island came together to discuss a
critical challenge: how to teach students effectively in a world that is
driven by rapidly evolving technologies. The 2009 Technology Summit —
presented by all three Long Island BOCES — featured national experts on the
use of educational technology, presentations covering the latest technology
tools, and more than 30 vendors offering samples of their latest educational
and technological resources.
Keynote speakers Will Richardson and David Warlick offered their expertise
on the value of technology in education, the increasingly fundamental role
it plays in students' lives, and the importance of adapting technological
tools and resources to the classroom. A host of local presenters spoke on a
vast spectrum of topics including social networking, Web 2.0, "Google
schools" and personal learning networks.
Warlick shared some of the most current information tools and discussed ways
to use them practically and creatively in classroom lessons. He demonstrated
virtual worlds designed specifically for the classroom environment, and a
graphing tool that displayed data in a three-dimensional, interactive model.
"Turn your students loose on it," Warlick encouraged educators. "There is an
enormous amount of data out there. Empower them to find it."
Richardson took educators on a journey "From Information Literacy to
Information Leadership," and shared a variety of leading-edge resources,
such as social bookmarking and online collaborative learning. "With the
explosion of online data," Richardson said, "school leaders need to employ
successful strategies for finding, managing and communicating information."
Web 2.0
Inclusion teachers Lisa Parisi and Christine Southard from the Herricks UFSD
shared their experience using Web 2.0 to differentiate instruction and
improve student achievement. Al Pisano, a teacher integration specialist
from Eastern Suffolk BOCES, offered ideas on using Web 2.0 to "harness the
power of information and become leaders in the use of 21st-century
technologies." Adam Bellow, a technology training specialist from Copiague
schools, introduced Web sites and technology tools that have helped his
students become more effective communicators and producers of high-quality
work.
21st-Century Scholars
Bethpage UFSD Superintendent Terrence Clark and Bethpage High School
principal John DeTommaso demonstrated how they are successfully integrating
21st-century learning into the curriculum using a "portfolio approach." The
Bethpage online digital portfolio is accessible 24/7 to students, parents
and teachers. Upon completing each of the activities in the portfolio,
students submit "artifacts" that range from essays to recordings of musical
performances and dance recitals.
Social networking and "Google schools"
Technology specialists Mark Pasciuti from Nassau BOCES and Christine Lositio
from Western-Suffolk BOCES offered strategies for educators to use Google
Earth to bring the world into their classrooms. A panel of experts from the
East Williston, Patchogue-Medford and Elwood school districts shared their
collective experiences in creating "Google schools" by integrating tools
from the popular search engine into their respective curricula. Following
the popular trends set by Twitter and Facebook, Bill Brennana of Port
Jefferson Schools demonstrated how he developed his own personal learning
network into a powerful educational tool for students and staff.
Statewide technology plan
Professor Stan Silverman from the New York Institute of Technology was on
hand to discuss "The Way Forward" initiative — a technology plan designed to
address the instructional technology priorities established by the New York
State Board of Regents.
>>Added 11/20/09
Innovative staff members score 28 new grants from
Educational Foundation
From left, Foundation
Chairman Dr. John Gangemi presents a giant check for $52,645.24 to
Nassau BOCES Board members Michael Weinick and Susan Bergtraum and
Nassau BOCES Deputy Superintendent Dr. Robert J. Hanna.
What do a used car; a digital stereo microscope; an array of flowers, trees
and shrubs; and an Apple iPod touch have in common?
They're all being put to use in innovative new programs conceived by Nassau
BOCES educators and supported by grant funding from the Nassau BOCES
Educational Foundation. Twenty-eight grants were recently awarded to staff
members for their creative programs designed to help students in unique
ways.
"This year, we are proud to award 28 grants totaling more than $52,000,"
said Dr. John Gangemi, chairman of the foundation. "To date, the foundation
has awarded more than $120,000 to Nassau BOCES schools and programs, helping
educators open new doors for their students and enhance lessons in
innovative ways."
The Nassau BOCES Educational Foundation is a nonprofit organization
supporting initiatives beyond the scope of the agency's budget. The
organization raises funds through events such as its golf outing and an
annual gala recognizing honorees of the Nassau BOCES "Education Partner"
awards program.
Grant-funded teaching innovation is just one way the agency fulfills its
mission of ensuring a successful, challenging, caring and safe environment
that enables students of all ages and abilities to achieve their maximum
potential.
The grant recipients and their winning projects are listed by school below.
Alternative Learning Program Linda Lopez, school psychologist Project: "Using Assistive Technology to Increase Student Success and
Independence in High School, College and the Workplace" Amount: $3,330.60
Mary Van Deusen, teacher Project: "In the Lens of the Beholder" Amount: $1,558.76
Barry Tech Sean Bradley, James Kirdahy, Gregory Lee, Stella Silva, Jon
Gaare and Paul Iannotta, teachers Project: "BOCES Green Car Initiative" Amount: $9,150
Carman Road School Ellen Campbell, teacher
Project: "iTouch, iTalk, iLearn: iPods as
Assistive Technology Devices in Special Education" Amount: $2,890
Karen Russo and Angela Wakefield, physical therapists; and Stella Ceron,
occupational therapist Project: "Fitness for All" Amount: $1,078.22
Mary Stern and Pamela Doyle, teachers Project: "Thank You America!" Amount: $1,013.89
Center for Community Adjustment Leslie Arluck, guidance counselor; and
Hollie Palumbo, teacher Project: "Yoga Expressions" Amount: $3,938.50
Eagle Avenue Middle School Arthur Golub, school psychologist
Project:
"Teaching Social Skills Through the Use of Multimedia Technology"
Amount:
$1,297.85
Hearing and Vision Services at Bowling Green Elementary School, East
Meadow UFSD Lorraine Badami, Judy Bauer, Sharon Fischer, Stephanie Kalter
and Nancy Safran, teachers Project: "Books-in-a-Bag: A Home-School Literacy
Partnership" Amount: $730
Instructional Programs and Alternative Schools (all schools) Ava Favara,
principal, Long Island High School for the Arts Project: "Printer for
Creation of Posters Announcing Student and Program Accomplishments" Amount:
$2,959.49
Jerusalem Avenue Elementary School Lisa Gottlieb-Coyle, teacher
Project:
"Jerusalem Avenue Track Team II" Amount: $1,346
Katharine Vera-Bowers, school psychologist
Project: "Girl Scouts: Brownie
and Junior Programs" Amount: $529
Long Island High School for the Arts Helen Salig, teacher
Project: "Geomodels
for Student Use in Geometry" Amount: $150
Frances Siefert, teacher
Project: "Fitness and the Creative Mind" Amount:
$600
Michele Zimmerman, teacher
Project: "Aid to Students for
Audition/Competition Fees and Essential Supplies" Amount: $1,000
Model Schools program at Jennie E. Hewitt Elementary School, Rockville
Centre UFSD Carolyn Strauch, Model Schools instructor
Project: "21st Century
Explorers" Amount: $1,032.93
Program for Alternative Comprehensive Education Scott Steibel, teacher
Project: "Digital Microscopy for At-Risk Students" Amount: $3,000
Rosemary Kennedy School Tina Cohen, vocational rehabilitation counselor;
and Melanie Brink, Peter Candela, Scott Lineman, Patrick Sullivan and Joanne
Tully, teachers Project: "Fitness Trail" Amount: $719.30
Mindy Davidson, vocational rehabilitation counselor
Project: "Wellness is
a Weighty Matter" Amount: $3,450
Chris Dwyer and Debbie McElwee, teachers; and Tina Cohen, vocational
rehabilitation counselor Project: "Cultural Arts Visual Library" Amount:
$867.77
K.T. Kamins and Allison Steakin, teachers
Project: "The Fun Zone" Amount:
$1,407.42
Alesa Paretti, teacher; Sean Donovan, school psychologist; Geraldine
Pierce, clerk typist; and Mindy Davidson, vocational rehabilitation
counselor Project: "Classroom in the Garden" Amount: $5,466.03
Rosemary Kennedy School's district-based class at Island Trees Memorial
Middle School Arlene Zegel, teacher; and Jessica Olstrom, occupational
therapist Project: "Leisure, Life and Learning with the Wii" Amount: $877.75
Rosemary Kennedy School's district-based class at Woodward Parkway
Elementary School, Farmingdale UFSD Roni Smith and Robert Harms, teachers
Project: "Communication Shines with Boardmaker Plus!" Amount: $924
Seaford Academic Center Robyn Shear, teacher, Teenage Parenting program
Project: "Toddler Chairs" Amount: $450
Angela Tarquinio, teacher,
English Literacy Alternative Program (ELAP)
Project: "Let's Go Shopping" Amount: $242
Angela Tarquinio, teacher, ELAP
Project: "R & R (Read and Relax)" Amount:
$165
>>Added 11/13/09
Nassau BOCES President Stephen B. Witt earns state board association's top honor
Stephen B. Witt, Nassau
BOCES President (right), accepts the Everett R. Dyer Award for
Distinguished School Board Service from NYSSBA President Wayne
Schlifke.
Stephen B. Witt, president of the Board of Cooperative Educational Services
of Nassau County (Nassau BOCES) and a board member for Hewlett-Woodmere
Public Schools, is the 2009 winner of the Everett R. Dyer Award for
Distinguished School Board Service. It is the highest tribute given to
school board members by the New York State School Board Association (NYSSBA).
Witt, who has served as a school board member for nearly 20 years, was
pleasantly surprised when the announcement came during NYSSBA's 90th annual
convention and trade show on Oct. 15 in New York City.
"I share this honor with all of the school board and staff members I've had
the good fortune of working with over the years," said Witt, after accepting
an engraved plaque from NYSSBA President Wayne Schlifke. "I'm grateful to
serve alongside so many caring people who put children first and who
believe, as I do, in the four As: academics, activities, athletics and the
arts."
The NYSSBA Distinguished Service Award is presented each year to one current
or former school board member among the thousands in the state who has done
the most for public education and the children of his or her community.
"Steve Witt exemplifies what school board service is all about," said
Schlifke. "He understands the role and work of school boards and has been a
mentor to many. He respects administrators and teachers and supports their
efforts. And first and foremost, he is an effective advocate for children."
Known for his good humor and gregarious nature, Witt is just as comfortable
lobbying for legislative reform in Albany as he is coaching his favorite
football, basketball and lacrosse teams to conference championships.
Witt has been a Nassau BOCES Board member since 1996 and was named President
in July 2009. In 1984, he was elected to the Hewlett-Woodmere School Board,
on which he served as both a board member and vice president until 1996. He
returned to the board in 2003 and was named Vice President in July 2009.
His commitment to public education is far reaching
— he also served as
president, vice president and treasurer of the Nassau-Suffolk School Boards
Association and continues to serve on its Executive Committee. He was on the NYSSBA
Board of Directors
and presently serves on its Investment Advisory Committee and as an
ambassador representing Nassau County school districts. Also, he was a
member of the State and Federal Legislative Network and authored several
articles for On Board, NYSSBA's journal.
No stranger to accolades, Witt has been a recipient of the Tri-M Honor
Society Honorary Lifetime Membership Award, the Lifetime PTA Membership
Award and the President's Volunteer Service Award presented by the
President's Council on Service and Civic Participation. Most recently, Witt
was a recipient of the Nassau
BOCES "Education Partner" award for his lasting contributions
to public education in Nassau County.
Despite all of Witt's formal recognition, the greatest honor, he says, comes
from the children he serves. "The real reward is the respect of the kids
— they mean everything to me. That's why I still
volunteer as a coach in my home district," says Witt, an assistant athletics
coach at Hewlett High School. "Students often confide more in their coaches
than they do anybody else at their school. So I am always listening to them
and learning how to be a better Board member."
>>Added 10/26/09
‘In this building, his life does go on’
Nassau BOCES dedicates the Robert E. Lupinskie Center for
Curriculum, Instruction and Technology
The grandchildren of the
late Robert E. Lupinskie, former Nassau BOCES board member, unveil
the official sign for the new educational technology center that
bares his name.
View a photo gallery.
In the days following her father’s death, Stephanie Visconti was often
told that life goes on. She didn’t believe it. But after walking into the
new Nassau BOCES facility in Westbury on Oct. 9, she changed her mind. She
looked around the building that was to be named in honor of her father,
Robert E. Lupinskie, that day, saw the technology and the dedicated people,
and realized that whenever anybody “learns something in this building, his
life does go on.”
Lupinskie, a longtime Nassau BOCES Board member who died in 2008, dedicated
much of his life to supporting and improving public education. His fellow
Board members in return decided to name the new facility the Robert E.
Lupinskie Center for Curriculum, Instruction and Technology.
“I don’t think anyone will ever fill his shoes,” said Board Vice President
Eric B. Schultz during the dedication ceremony. “He was never afraid to ask
a question and always gave an honest opinion. He made the difficult
choices.”
Schultz and Board President Stephen B. Witt said that when they are faced
with tough decisions or difficult tasks they ask themselves, “What would
Robert do?”
Watch a video
presentation describing the new center for Curriculum, Instruction and Technology
(CIT), and learn about many of the programs and services CIT has to offer.
Chosen for its centralized location, One Merrick Avenue in Westbury, the
center provides services for the 56 school districts in Nassau County in
everything from state test preparation and technology training to curriculum
enhancements in math and science. It is a center for teaching and learning,
and houses nine major programs that provide 77 services to school districts.
These cooperative services generate thousands of dollars in savings to the
districts through consortium purchases, innovative product development and
cost-effective shared services.
Watch a video
presentation to learn more.
“This building represents what Robert was really about,” said Witt,
“especially technology and curriculum.”
Lupinskie’s other daughter, Lorraine Huvane, read from a letter he wrote
about public policy. “I could almost hear him pounding the desk as he wrote
that,” she said. “He was very much a believer in accountability.”
She went on to call the building “cool” and said her father would have been
humbled by the tribute.
Linda Lopez, school psychologist 
