Curriculum & Instructional Services 24

PROFILES IN SUCCESS: Dr. Julio Vazquez, Director of Instruction and HR, North Salem School District

As Director of Instruction and Human Resources in the North Salem School District, Julio Vazquez certainly has several key responsibilities under his charge, which is one reason he is grateful for the many supports provided by, and through, Putnam | Northern Westchester BOCES.

In terms of instruction, North Salem takes advantage of BOCES’ Science 21 program for the elementary school, and ELA and social studies are supported through the BOCES Curriculum and Instruction Department. Additionally, several teachers take advantage of collegial circle offerings, he says.

Working closely with Greg Fredricks, BOCES Regional Coordinator for Social Studies and Blended Learning, Vazquez involved North Salem in piloting the New York State Seal of Civic Readiness. The program brings social studies alive by connecting students with social studies as a lived experience. The Seal of Civic Readiness is awarded to seniors who complete a community-oriented project as an extension of their Participation in Government and Economics courses.

For example, one student approached the project through a social emotional lens, researching mental health issues and repainting columns in the eighth-grade quad with inspirational themes.

The pilot was successful in North Salem, Vazquez says, and the district will continue with the program. “The Seal of Civic Readiness supports our school district mission. The student learning was much more than just the acquisition of knowledge obtained in their coursework; they could apply it in a way in which they could impact their local community.” "Julio's stewardship of the Seal of Civic Readiness work in North Salem was inspiring,” said Fredricks. The impact that it had on the students and staff of the district, and the powerful connections made between community and school, are a testament to his leadership and dedication to the North Salem community. The projects and structures created in North Salem are now inspiring countless students, teachers, and school districts across New York as they embark on their own journeys with the Seal."

Vazquez says he values collaboration with his peers as a member of the BOCES Curriculum Council, a networking group of educators at the district level, and feels he benefits from the support and frequent exchange of ideas with his colleagues in the region. The Council pairs new administrators with a “buddy,” a relationship he benefited from immensely in the past, and he now serves as a buddy for members who are new to the council.

“This type of job can be isolating, so even when we are not meeting, we are constantly in contact with peers, which is extremely helpful. Most recently we’ve addressed DEI, diversity, equity and inclusion, in terms of the curriculum and meeting the needs of the students,” he says.

The collaboration has been valuable to him in North Salem, he says, where “our population has definitely diversified in recent years, with more English Language Learner needs and children who need more support in order to succeed in school.”

Vazquez says he has found BOCES work in Response to Intervention and Multi-Tiered Systems of Support to be extremely helpful in supporting his North Salem community "Aside from supporting me, I can say that BOCES supports every administrator and teacher in our district through collegial circles, the Hudson River Teacher Center and multiple professional learning offerings. Our relationship with PNW BOCES is invaluable,” he says.

EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY

The Educational Technology Department at Putnam | Northern Westchester BOCES helps districts explore new ways to inspire and empower students with a variety of opportunities to support the infusion of technology into teaching and learning, all with an eye toward improving student outcomes.

JENNIFER HARRITON-WILSON, Ed.D.

EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY COORDINATOR

jhwilson@pnwboces.org (914) 248-2329