Area Principals to Become Students at BOCES CTE

ALBANY – Several area high school principals will pay a visit to Capital Region BOCES during Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month to switch gears and become a student for the day.

The first-ever Shadow a CTE Scholar Principals Challenge will take place throughout the month of February—which is national Career and Technical Education Month.

Principals and administrators from Niskayuna, Guilderland, Scotia-Glenville, Green Island, Schoharie, Guilderland, Mohonasen and Cohoes have signed up to take part in the initiative.

“It’s a great opportunity for our fellow educators to get in the trenches with our scholars and see firsthand all of the amazing things taking place here at Capital Region BOCES,” said Shelette Pleat, Principal of the Career and Technical Education Center – Albany Campus.

On Jan. 25, Scotia-Glenville Principal Peter Bednarek  spiced up his workday and got a head start on CTE Month festivities at Capital Region BOCES when he shadows Culinary Arts & Hospitality Tech student Lily Galluccio.

Kicking off the actual CTE Month celebration on Feb. 1 will be Heatly School Administrator Dan Kalbfliesh, who will trade his laptop for a bandsaw and work alongside student Angelo Casale in the Building Trades program.

On Feb. 5, Guilderland Assistant Principal Brian Mazza will turn wrenches alongside Automotive Trade senior Dominick Champagne during the morning session.

Guilderland High School Principal Mike Piscitelli will learn the ins and outs of cabling, wiring and more alongside Network Technology student Silas Pietrocoia on Feb. 8, while also on Feb 8, Schoharie High School Principal Kevin Calacone will heat up a potential future career in welding with the help of Welding and Metal Fabrication senior Chloe Armstrong.

On Feb. 9, Niskayuna Principal Joe Coleman will visit the Cosmetology program and try to sharpen his hairstyling skills alongside senior Audrey Murphy. Mohonasen’s Craig Chandler will also visit on Feb. 9 and shift his knowledge of automobiles into high gear with the guidance of Automotive Trades Technology senior Joseph Romeo.

Cohoes High School Principal Laura Tarlo is also planning to take part in the CTE Month shadowing.

The Shadow a CTE Scholars event is one of several initiatives taking place at Capital Region BOCES during February. The month is set aside nationally as a time when school communities across the country celebrate programs designed to prepare students for the workforce or to pursue higher education. Once an education path for students only seeking vocational skills, career and technical education is now a pathway for students looking to build career skills, get a head start on their college education or just learn a life skill that will allow them to pay for college. At the Capital Region BOCES Career and Technical Education Center, 97% of graduates enter the workforce and/or pursue college or technical school degrees.