BOCES speech and language pathologist Bernadette Coyne looks over selections at the Walden Book Fair, held the week of May 2-9 in the Walden library.The book fair brought in nearly $3,500 in sales.  

 

   

We extend our thanks and best wishes to the following BOCES retirees. As they prepare for the next phase of their lives, we asked them to share some thoughts about their careers, the things they will miss most, and their plans for the future. 

 

 

ELIZABETH BOWLER - 19 Years 

WORK: "This is my twentieth year here at The Tech Center," said Elizabeth. "I am an ESOL (English to Speakers of Other Languages) teacher, and when I started in 1994 I had only nine students. This year we have more than 89 on our roster, and I have two other teachers working with me."

 

ELAINE GERLT - 34 Years 

WORK: Elaine has been a Speech-Language Pathologist at BOCES for 34 years. "For the first 20 years or so I worked in what was the Preschool Program for Children with Special Needs. Since then, I've worked primarily in the Communication Disorders Program/Transitional Kindergarten (which is no longer part of our program), and in the CLASS Program located in local school buildings and at Walden, as well with some students in the Learning Center."

WORK: Dan has had a rich and varied career at BOCES. He served as a clinical social worker with the Regional Alternative High School, the Learning Center at Walden, and OASIS. In addition Dan was an Instructional Technology Specialist with special education for several years and an administrative intern. He was instrumental in launching the Learning Center program for juniors and seniors at Fox Meadow, the GED program in special education, and the OASIS program. He was part of the planning committee for the NYSPEED conference for 10 years, co-facilitated the Regional School Social Worker's group, and served as the treasurer and a member of the negotiating committee for the United Staff Association over his final years here at BOCES.

SATISFACTION: "My greatest pleasure has been collaborating with so many extraordinary people to create and maintain programs that successfully serve the needs of so many students whose lives before reaching us were filled with trauma and pain. We have made a difference! I will miss the touching stories that each child carries with them and needs to share. I will miss the laughter, the tears, the love, and the enduring hope that I have shared with so many colleagues, parents, and students."

FUTURE: Dan plans to continue as the executive director of Unirondack, the Unitarian Universalist camp he has been associated with for more than 20 years. He also looks forward to travelling and having time to sleep. "I dream of opening a coffeehouse of some kind where I can share music, good food, and community with others," he said.

 

 

LAUREL HOLLY - 15 Years   

WORK: Laurel's role at BOCES started out as a one-to-one, but she has been a teacher aide for teacher Michelle Rose at Mahopac's Fulmar Road Elementary School for the last 14 years.

SATISFACTION: "When you work and work and work with a child and finally it clicks; the friendships I've made with co-workers; going back and forth with ideas to come up with solutions; determining what we needed to do to make a difference. Sometimes it was easy and sometimes not so much."

TO BE MISSED: "I will miss the children, working with the team and Michelle Rose."

FUTURE: Sleeping late, playing with her grandchildren and travelling. 

 

 

CARLOS MALDONADO - 15 Years 

 

JOAN PASSARETTI - 16 Years 

WORK: Senior Office Assistant for the Hudson River Teacher Center and Arts in Education. Joan started in 1997 as a part-time office assistant and the next year was hired full-time for the Teacher Center. "I left in 2000 to attend the Police Academy (or as Marla says, 'I went to prison') and then returned to work hourly in Curriculum, Guidance and the Teacher Center," said Joan. "I was rehired and went to work for the Teacher Center again full time and, two years ago when the state reduced the amount of grant money, I started working half a day for Arts in Education and half a day for the Teacher Center."

SATISFACTION: "The relationships I have had with all the people I have had dealings with over the years."

TO BE MISSED: "Dressing up for Halloween and our food court."

FUTURE: "I was mainly looking forward to sleeping late and staying up late but after spending a week home over the Easter break I have decided it might not be a good idea to spend all that additional time with my husband. I am looking into what my next career will be. Anything is possible."

 

 

BARBARA POWERS - 33 Years  

WORK: Barbara began at Pines Bridge School in 1980 as a Speech Therapist. "I worked with the Communication Disorders Program (which is no longer part of our program), the Severe Communication Disorders Program (which is now the CLASS Program) and the Learning Center Program," said Barbara. She is currently working at Pines Bridge in the High School and Transitions Programs and has been the Team Leader for the speech therapists for the past several years.

SATISFACTION: "BOCES has provided me with the opportunity to work collaboratively with other professionals and dedicated staff to help students with a variety of physical, cognitive and behavioral challenges," said Barbara. "I've worked with students from five to 21 years of age in a variety of settings. It is so rewarding to see a student light up and smile when you work with them, to see a student progress and acquire a new skill, and to see students develop the ability to communicate in a more functional way. The dedicated staff that I have worked with are truly there for the students and each other and help make the programs possible."

TO BE MISSED: I will miss the people I work with, both staff and students. I will miss the sense of belonging to a community and the feeling of accomplishment for even the smallest of achievements."

FUTURE: "I am looking forward to the next phase of my life in retirement. I have no immediate plans and, after more than 30 years of teaching, I am looking forward to going on vacation in September and having time for friends, family, projects and personal enrichment."  

 

 

CATHY PRIOR - 30 Years  

WORK: During the past 30 years, Cathy has worked as a school social worker and team leader. In addition to working at The Learning Center, she has been in seven school districts and eight local school buildings. She has been a program coordinator/summer principal for Pines Bridge ESY for three summers, and she was also involved in planning, coordinating and implementing the first P/NW BOCES summer school for high school students from local districts.

SATISFACTION: "I have enjoyed the opportunity to work in various locations with different student populations. I have also appreciated the flexibility that we are offered to try new things."

TO BE MISSED: "Working with so many dedicated, giving and professional staff, particularly all of the teacher aides and assistants, who are the core support of our programs."

FUTURE: "Sleeping late! And no more one-hour commute!" Cathy is looking forward to spending more time with her children and granddaughter, continuing with piano studies at Juilliard and painting at the National Arts Club, extensive traveling (she is spending the summer in Paris and will be taking a bike and barge trip from Amsterdam to Belgium in the fall), and doing more outdoor activities such as hiking, kayaking, biking, golfing and skiing. She will continue to split her time between her apartment in New York City and barn (c. 1785) in Ridgefield, CT, and hopes to have more time to enjoy the arts.

 

 

MARY SIMONELLI - 22 Years 

WORK: Mary was hired in September 1992 on a Tech Prep grant, to integrate academics into trade programs at The Tech Center. "I have been here ever since, so this is the culmination of 22 years of teaching," she said. "My main assignment has been to teach integrated math in Career & Technical Education (CTE) classes. I have also taught Pre-GED, GED, and, now, the new TASC course for high school equivalency." Mary has worked in many trades, particularly in the Transportation Cluster (Auto Technology, Auto Body, and Small Engine Repair). She spent several years as both math and English teacher for the Culinary Arts program. A few years ago, her teaching responsibilities expanded to include Architectural Design & Modeling, Telecommunications Electronics, and Microcomputer Technology. This year, Mary was also assigned to teach math in the Construction Cluster. 

 

YONATAN (YONI) SOKAL - 24 Years

WORK: Psychiatric consultant since 1980. 

CIA in Action

Teaming Up to Serve Students