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May 9, 2019It’s Teacher Appreciation Week!Career and Tech Faculty and Staff Bring Experience and a Different Outlook to the Classroom
One is a motorcycle mechanic, another a union electrician with more than three decades of experience. Still others operate their own culinary businesses on the side. One thing that Capital Region BOCES Career and Technical School faculty have in common is experience — “real-world” experience in the industries that they teach about.
This experience means not only workplace knowledge, but a dedication to ensuring that future workers in those fields have the most up-to-date skills and knowledge possible as they enter the workforce. In preparation for this week’s National Teacher Appreciation Week, we spoke to several students and graduates about their experiences at Capital Region BOCES and their interaction with the dozens of faculty members.
“I am very, very thankful for Mr. Kucsik’s instruction. He is a good teacher and shares with us everything he has learned in the workplace,” said Ed Stern of Scotia-Glenville, a graduate of the automotive maintenance and light repair program.
When he’s not in the classroom, John Kuscsik works as a motorcycle and ATV technician.
Senior Donald Ploof said Capital Region BOCES’ faculty have been the difference between him graduating and dropping out of school.
“I feel they care about you. They aren’t just here for the money. They want you to do your best,” said Ploof, a senior from Watervliet in the Welding program who is also enrolled in BOCES’ Pathways Academy. “If it wasn’t for BOCES, I wouldn’t even be graduating. … There are a lot of people that have helped me here and kept me on the straight and narrow.”
Adult nursing student Ashley Torres said the nurses and teachers in the Capital Region BOCES Health Careers program go above and beyond to make the curriculum understandable.
“All of the teachers are wonderful and they really help you to understand everything that you are learning. They care,” said Torres, a full-time Adult Practical Nursing student from Clifton Park.
Fellow adult student Stephen Selvyn, who is enrolled in the heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration program, seconded that opinion.
“Frank Ando is an excellent teacher. He explains it real properly and real simple,” said the Albany resident.
The sentiment was also shared by a high school junior in the electrical trades program.
“The teachers are great. They tell us how it is, give us helpful feedback and tell us how it will be in the real world, which I really appreciate,” said Quinn Rickard from Schalmont.
Students of all ages said the Career and Technical School faculty bring a different mindset to their teaching because of the experiences they have practicing their trades.
“It’s great that they share their knowledge, their experience. The teachers at Capital Region BOCES teach you what you need to know to start a career,” said Alex Thomas, a 2018 adult student graduate of the Diesel Tech program.
Joe Pedersen, a senior from Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake who is enrolled in Hudson Valley Community College in the fall concurred, saying his whole outlook on life changed when he enrolled in automotive technology at Captial Region BOCES.
“Going to BOCES has made me want to learn. Before I was barely passing school, getting grades in the 60s, maybe 70s. Once I started here, it really made a difference. My whole attitude changed. My parents noticed it even and were really proud. Now I am getting grades in the high 80s, 90s and even 100s.”
National Teacher Appreciation Week runs from May 6 through May 10.
