SPECIAL ISSUE 2012 Retirement News
|
|
James T. Langlois, Ed.D.
Noting Change
Summer is a time to sit back and relax a little more than we usually do. And when you take a little time to do nothing -- on your porch or deck, on a beach, or wandering aimlessly along a path through the woods -- you notice things that are often missed in the hectic pace of our professional lives. In summer, nature, for example, is frantically busy. Everything is growing and changing, bursting with new life. And when you pause and just look and listen for a while, you notice how everything seems to be intertwined, everything depends on and impacts everything else. You find yourself surrounded by a wonderful, blooming, buzzing confusion that, in the end, simply fits together.
We are honoring our retirees in this special issue of the BOCES Reporter, thanking them for the decades of dedication they have given to the children and adults we served. But what is equally important is for us to recognize the impact that each of them has had on us -- as individuals and as an organization. Like nature in summer, we are intertwined with those who are leaving us. We have changed and grown because of the lives they lived in our midst, the responsibilities and goals we shared, the personal connections, the dreams that passed back and forth among us. We are so much more because of them, more effective professionals, richer and deeper human beings.
Even though they move off into retirement, in their effect on us, they never leave. BOCES will always be better and stronger because of the time they spent with us.
|
|
|
|
CIA in Action
Tourists Gain Insight
 |
CIA 'TOURISTS' on the road to discoveries |
Before he began learning about other BOCES programs through the Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment Committee (CIA), Christian Brunelli, an academic teacher at the Tech Center, said Walkabout was a "faceless" program that he viewed as a threat. If Walkabout were to close, he reasoned, some of its teachers would displace teachers with less seniority at the Tech Center.
"Now, after getting to know people who work in the Walkabout program," he said. "I'm invested in Walkabout and want it to succeed, not for job reasons, but because I believe in the work that the Walkabout staff does and the difference they make."
A member of the CIA, Brunelli is one of a half dozen staff members who spent a day in early June touring BOCES' facilities and learning about all the varied programs the agency offers. During a stop at Walkabout on the Fox Meadow campus, Mike Sowul, principal of the Walden School, asked detailed questions about the students who make up the program, the credits they earn and the core philosophy of Walkabout.
Brunelli, who works with New Visions students at the Tech Center, commented on the fact that both Walkabout and New Visions programs create a strong sense of community among the students. And community building is what the CIA hopes to accomplish by offering monthly BOCES tours beginning in the fall.
"This isn't just about learning what people in other programs do, or how the programs work," Brunelli said. "It is about building community here at BOCES, being invested in one another's work. We hope that within two years, every BOCES staff member will have been a BOCES tourist."
|
|
|
|
|
BOCES' new virtual suggestion box is open for business and already producing results. Part of the Future of BOCES Taskforce initiative, the virtual suggestion box, accessible on the BOCES website, welcomes and encourages staff members to share ideas and suggestions to improve BOCES' collective work.
Suggestions already made and either implemented or in the works include replacing and moving a memorial tree; reinstituting the BOCES Beautification Committee (contact: Lynn Allen); bolstering the sub pool to locate possible substitutes for essential staff; and altering the paths into Walden and Pines Bridge schools.
Keep the new ideas coming!
To access the suggestion box, click on the orange link at left or copy/paste the following:
http://www.pnwboces.org/SuggestionBox/Default.aspx |
Retirement News
This season, BOCES bids farewell to more than a dozen retiring staff members, with recognition for their dedicated service and extending to them best wishes for the future.
Starting with Judy Spaulding, supervisor of special education for the Pines Bridge School, the group includes Mary Ann Alvord, teacher, general special education; Kathleen Batchelor, teacher, reading; Marie Carlucci, teaching assistant; Christina Egan, teacher, general special education; John Hallinan, school psychologist; Christine Konczewski, general special education; Victor Messick, teacher, English and social studies; Antoinette Noto, school social worker; Richard O'Keefe, teacher, general special education: Lorraine Petruzzi, Substitute Systems coordinator; Perin Schneider, speech pathologist; Susan Shafer, school psychologist; Irene Snow, teacher, mathematics; Judith Trongone, teacher aide; and Mary Vinci, teacher aide.
 | Judy Spaulding |
Judy Spaulding
Pines Bridge Supervisor of Special Education - 21 years
WORK: Supervising 100 staff professionals -- teachers, aides, therapists, and psychologists -- serving with, on average, 100 students, ages 5 to 21, who have multiple disabilities. Pines Bridge has changed significantly in the last 21 years, Judy said. "The children now are far more medically fragile. These children would never have been in a public school before."
Judy came to BOCES as a supervisor of related service providers, including speech-language, occupational and physical therapists and teachers of the hearing and visually impaired. Prior to BOCES she worked as a supervisor of speech-language, occupational and physical therapists in the Evanston-Skokie school district in Illinois.
SATISFACTION:"Every step every child makes toward being more independent.... creating a philosophy that encourages independence. The whole staff works together to fulfill that philosophy."
TO BE MISSED: The students and the staff. "Anybody who works here is here because (s)he wants to be here, whether they are teachers, therapists or aides," she said.
FUTURE:Judy plans to teach a course at Pace University in July on Students with Severe Disabilities. After that, she and her husband, Tom, along with five friends, will take a week's vacation to go biking in the Adirondacks. They have been making similar trips for years and have biked in Ireland, France, Italy and the Czech Republic. A Valhalla resident, Judy routinely goes to the gym at 5 a.m. -- before the school day -- and will probably continue going at that hour, at least for a while. She also plans to spend more time with her grandchildren; three of the five live nearby. "Beyond that, I have no other permanent plans... not yet. Something will fall out of the sky," she said.
 |
Mary Ann Alvord
|
Mary Ann Alvord
Pines Bridge Special Education Teacher - 37 years
WORK: "I taught all ages, 5 to 21, at Pines Bridge, in the districts and in the community-based program. I came to BOCES first as a Mercy College student teacher in 1975 and just stayed, though I received a master's from the College in New Rochelle. I've never been on an interview and never done a resume."
SATISFACTION: Over the years Mary Ann counts seven superintendents; six supervisors; 3,286 students, and countless friendships forever. Her motto is "work hard and play hard." Her 37 years at BOCES are "unforgettable," she said. And her connection to the field continues. Her two children are getting their master's in special education. Riley is an aide with BOCES; Annie is teaching in San Diego.
FUTURE: A Yorktown resident, Mary Ann says this about what's up next: "I have some ideas....'
 |
Kathleen
Batchelor
|
Kathleen Batchelor
Reading Teacher - 24 years
WORK: A literacy specialist and part-time director of The Hudson River Teacher Center. "The years have just flown by, always opening the next door and finding the next opportunity," she said.
SATISFACTION: This year Kathy was given a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Andrus Invitational Conference and the Reading Teacher of the Year Award by the New York State Reading Association. "I credit all my success to the opportunities I've been given and I feel that I've made a difference for lots of students," she said.
TO BE MISSED: "I will miss working with the students and the satisfaction of helping them, because that's what it's all about."
FUTURE: "I plan to pursue my PhD in literacy and technology and I have rooms of books waiting for me! I will definitely still keep a reading lifestyle."
 |
Christina Egan
|
Christina Egan
Pupil Personnel Services Coordinator at The Tech Center - 33 years
WORK: Christina's jobs at BOCES have changed through the years: She has been a special education teacher of self-contained classes, a staff development trainer for SETRC, a program coordinator for Gifted Mentor programs, a speech and language pathologist, an acting program coordinator at Walden and an acting assistant principal at Tech.
SATISFACTION: "The best part of my work at BOCES has been the staff, students and the variety of roles and responsibilities I've been able to experience. Each role has been extremely satisfying. In my current position, I find great fulfillment in finding or, at times, developing the right career and technical education placement for students with learning and emotional disabilities. I also enjoy partnering with school district personnel to facilitate student success."
TO BE MISSED: "The staff, students and parents I've worked with through the years. I will also miss being part of a team of professionals seeking to meet the needs of students each in our individual way. Wherever my life leads, I will remain grateful for the satisfying career I've enjoyed at BOCES and will always treasure the wonderful friends and colleagues I've come to know along the way."
FUTURE: "I will continue to raise my wonderful daughter, Eliza, and share my life with my husband, Dave, and other family. However, I also plan to seek new career and life opportunities. I don't know exactly what form this might take, but I look forward to the adventure."
 |
John Hallinan
|
John Hallinan
School Psychologist - 31 years
WORK:"As a school psychologist, I have been fortunate to be able to do individual counseling, group counseling and a lot of work with parents, in addition to the usual psychologist's role as a 'testing machine'."
SATISFACTION: "I really have enjoyed working with students, and have formed close relationships with many of the staff, particularly the 'old timers,' who are either retired or about to be. There never seems to be a boring day and I am proud of the students who have flourished with the help of the great staff here at BOCES."
TO BE MISSED: "The kids and the staff, but it's time to move on."
FUTURE: "I plan to relax and get back into my outdoor activities such as kayaking and running, but I also want the leisure of being able to sit down and read a book without having to worry about what else I am supposed to be doing. The thing I look forward to the most is the fact that I can finally take a September vacation in Lake George."
 |
Christine Konczewski
|
Christine Konczewski
Special Education Teacher - 33 years
WORK: "I've been very fortunate to have had lots of opportunities to teach using creative and alternative teaching methods. Students are placed with us for many reasons, and so we need to teach them in many ways."
SATISFACTION: "It's been very satisfying to help the families as well as the students. I'm proud to have worked with so many wonderful people and consider myself very lucky."
TO BE MISSED: "Most of all, I will miss the people. This is a very social job, and I have some great memories."
FUTURE: "It will be very nice to have the time to visit with family but, otherwise, I'm not sure. The future is an open book."
 |
Antoinette Noto
|
Antoinette Noto
School Social Worker - 24 years
WORK: "As a clinician, I see students individually weekly or more often to give them support as they deal with emotional issues that impact their learning abilities. I also work with families and interact with agencies and medical staffs. During my first three years at BOCES, I worked part time at French Hill. Then I worked in various programs, including Pines Bridge, Walden pre-school, elementary and high school. The majority of my time was spent at Fox Meadow, but the last two years have been at the Walden junior high school."
SATISFACTION: "I've enjoyed the students and their resilience despite many setbacks in their personal lives. They have made me laugh and cry and have taught me many things about human beings. The staff here is amazing. They never give up and keep trying to give their students an education by cajoling, rewarding, identifying good behaviors and listening to their stories. The staffs at Pines Bridge are awesome in their dedication to so many of the severely handicapped students, patiently teaching them to talk, walk and feed themselves. Unless you are witness to these caring people, you cannot imagine what it is they do day-to-day for the children."
TO BE MISSED: The daily banter, joking and teasing among staff.
FUTURE: "I have a daughter who is marrying at the end of June. After that anything is possible."
 |
Richard O'Keefe
|
Richard O'Keefe
Special Education Teacher - 33 years
WORK: "I am a Special Education teacher at Walden and have previously served as Dean of Students at the Regional Alternative High School, RAHS program. The best part of working here has always been the people. If we didn't have such great people, the system just wouldn't work."
SATISFACTION: "I get the most satisfaction from seeing students succeed and from seeing them years later in jobs or in professions. I'm proud to have helped start the French Hill program years ago and to have been a part of the RAHS community."
FUTURE: "I will probably do some subbing, so I won't miss this at all for a while. I also plan to play more golf. Down the road, I, along with my partner, Ginny, may look into moving to Central America.
 |
Lorraine Petruzzi
|
Lorraine Petruzzi
Substitute Systems Coordinator - 25 years
WORK: "When my youngest child was entering second grade I answered an ad in the Pennysaver for a part-time position as a typist at BOCES. I never dreamed it would lead to a 25-plus-year career. I worked in the Teacher Center and Guidance & Child Study Center until 1995, when I applied for the new position of SubFinder coordinator. Since then SubFinder has grown to include 15 districts with more than 8,000 employees and almost 3,000 substitutes. Each day begins at 6:30 a.m., monitoring the calls being made to fill jobs, reviewing each unfilled position and taking calls from employees who are reporting late absences."
SATISFACTION: "I'm most proud of the successful marketing and training I've done for our districts and the relationships I've formed because of the customer support we've provided over the years."
TO BE MISSED: "I'll miss the socialization each day with BOCES staff but look forward to having time to spend with extended family and friends."
FUTURE: "My husband, Frank, and I have taken two trips to Italy and hope to plan another for next spring. This one will take some research to plan as in addition to touring Tuscany, we want to visit the towns our grandparents came from which are all small towns off the beaten path."
 |
Perin Schneider
|
Perin Schneider
Speech Pathologist - 26 years
WORK: "My career as a Speech Pathologist began at BOCES in October of 1986, so when I retire, I will have worked on the main campus and in our component districts for a total of 25.8 years."
SATISFACTION: "When you love what you do, you look forward to the opportunity to positively impact your students' lives by improving and increasing their receptive, expressive and pragmatic language skills."
TO BE MISSED: "What I will miss most about BOCES is also the best part of working here: the acquaintances, friends and mentors who have enriched my life, and the collaboration of likeminded people who love what they do, and go above and beyond in order to enrich the lives of students."
FUTURE: "While this has been a great ride it's now time for another...to go across this country in a new camper to see all natural beauty, including the national parks. Retirement will also afford me more time to spend with my children, my family and my friends because I have heard that when you are retired every day is Saturday!"
 |
Susan Shafer
|
Susan Shafer
School Psychologist - 18 years
WORK: "As a school psychologist, I work with elementary and middle school students in the Learning Center and CLASS programs."
SATISFACTION: "The best part is working and interacting with the students, staff and families; the challenge and fun and something new that this presents every day. I'm most proud of the steps forward that some students have taken, their sense of pride and smiles on their faces."
TO BE MISSED: Interfacing with people (staff and kids) all day long.
FUTURE: Balancing community service and fun.
 |
Irene Snow
|
Irene Snow
Math teacher - 26 years
WORK: "I was teaching math for four years at a Catholic high school before coming to BOCES. Currently I teach it in the construction trades. I also teach the GED program. I love the diversity of my work here at BOCES. I see different students and staff every day."
SATISFACTION: "I will miss working with students, but mostly I will miss my colleagues."
FUTURE: "My husband and I have a planned a trip to Italy in October and hope to be able to continue to travel. Next year we will take the family on a Disney cruise. I also plan to take dog grooming lessons. Oil painting and piano lessons are a possibility too. I am looking forward to starting the next phase of my life."
|
DAY TO REMEMBER:
Clockwise from bottom left, staffers enjoy lunch at the end-of-the-year picnic; Retirement Trolley arrives to take retirees on a "farewell pub crawl"; Chris Egan and Judy Spaulding,
in Retiring Class of 2012 tee shirts, prepare to board the bus. Photographer is Perin Schneider.
|
July
Birthdays
 |
Olorunfemi Alao, Riley Alvord, Denise Andersen, Joanne Assalone, Kevin Berge, Sheila Bernstein, Thomas Bisceglia, Frances Branca, Dan Bruen, Maureen Campbell, Debra Canzio, Debra Clampet, Catherine Connolly, Thomas Connolly, Aubrey Cooke, Deborah Cooper, Shakuar Cooper, Judy DeRosa, Kathleen Desimone, Pamela DiCioccio, Joanna Dickerson Bierce, Gregory Dinsmore, Alanna Donohue, Darci Ettari, Valerie Fazio, Michelle Franks, Marla Gardner, Debra Koch Haggerty, Kate Jenis, Ellen Keane, Christine Konczewski, Thomasa Ledbetter, Christopher Lofaro, Mary Lorenzo, Sara Lowe-Ward, Michelle Marello, Lawrence Marino, Gerald Markel, Elizabeth Marques, Michael Martabano, John McCabe, John McCarthy, Elizabeth Melagrano, Kathleen Molchan-Hefner, Barbara Murphy, Jennel Osborne, Dorothy Pascale, David Quas, Robert Raphael, Barbara Reynolds, Marianne Rodriguez, Meredith Rooney, Nancy Rosa, Susan Salmeri, Frances Sampson, Alfred Santoli, Rebecca Santos, Erin Shackelton, Xinde Sheng, Giuseppina Siconolfi, Lucyann Spano, David Stern, Fontaine Stevens-Mah, and Maria Wrobel.
|
We hope you've enjoyed receiving the BOCES Reporter as an email newsletter.
Our goal is to make the news and views of BOCES staff easily accessible to you.
Let us know what you think. Suggestions and comments are always welcome.
Barbara Coats, editor: bcoats@pnwboces.org or ext. 818
____________________________________________________________________________
BOCES Reporter Dr. James Langlois, Superintendent Barbara Coats, Editor Valerie Laudato, Designer Click here to visit www. pnwboces.org |
|
|