Career & Technical Education 2

PROFILES IN SUCCESS: Landscaping Professionals

When your passion is working in the great outdoors and creating beautiful spaces, owning your own landscaping company is a dream come true. That is exactly the outcome for several graduates of Putnam|Northern Westchester BOCES Urban Forestry program, all of whom own and operate their own landscaping businesses. They attribute much of their success to graduating from the Career and Technical Education program.

"Urban Forestry at CTE played a key role in the success of our businesses," said Eddie Bazinet of Eddie’s Yard, his landscaping company in Yorktown. Along with his brother Joe, the two also co-founded Bold Design Build, which creates intricate indoor and outdoor spaces using stone, wood and tile. Students are graduates of Lakeland High School and of the Urban Forestry program, Eddie in 2006 and Joe in 2012.

Eddie Bazinet credits Urban Forestry teacher John Madden for giving them the hands-on experience that set them up for success.

"Mr. Madden and (former teaching assistant) Mark Hilpl are a wealth of knowledge," Bazinet said. "They not only taught the fundamentals of safety and application, they gave us real-life experience, which you truly cannot find anywhere else. They taught us the 'how's' of the industry inside and out." Blake Fahey, an Urban Forestry program and Yorktown High School graduate, also has a Yorktown-based business. Blake Excavation focuses on residential and commercial projects, including new construction, land clearing, retaining walls, and more.

"Enrolling in the program definitely helped me get a head start in opening my own business," Fahey said.

And there’s a third company with roots in the Tech Center’s Urban Forestry program. Alpine Tree Service in Hopewell Junction is owned and operated by an Urban Forestry grad Jake DeMasi, (Lakeland High School). After graduating in 2014, Jake obtained a degree from the University of Massachusetts’ Stockbridge School of Agriculture and holds three arborist licenses, including an international license.

DeMasi said the Urban Forestry program taught him arboriculture and how to tree climb and use equipment safely. "So much of my success is due to the Urban Forestry program," said DeMasi. He credits Madden with providing the encouragement and motivation as well as the skills he needed to realize his dream.

Blake Fahey Joe and Eddie Bazinet Jake DeMasi

SPECIAL EDUCATION

The Special Education Department at Putnam|Northern Westchester BOCES provides high-quality special education programs and services for students with a wide array of social, emotional, learning and medical needs. Our programs are located at our Pines Bridge, Walden and Fox Meadow schools on our two main campuses in Yorktown Heights and in local school buildings in the Lakeland, Mahopac, and Somers school districts. All of our special education programs focus on providing Pathways to Success for every student with an emphasis on enhancing students' communication, independence, self-advocacy and skills for success into adulthood. Every program is designed to meet a child’s individualized needs in a nurturing and supportive environment.

LISA HAMMEL

DIRECTOR

lhammel@pnwboces.org (914) 248-2351

NICOLE GINEXI, Ed.D.

COORDINATOR (RELATED SERVICES) nginexi@pnwboces.org (914) 248-3803

ALFRED SANTOLI

COORDINATOR (CURRICULUM, INSTRUCTION AND ASSESSMENT) asantoli@pnwboces.org (914) 248-2270

THE WALDEN SCHOOL

DR. MATTHEW TUCKER, PRINCIPAL MTUCKER@PNWBOCES.ORG (914) 248-2270

Located on the PNW BOCES main campus in Yorktown, Walden students attend one of four programs.

COLLABORATIVE LANGUAGE ACADEMIC AND SOCIAL SKILLS (CLASS) CO-SER 204

CLASS is a program for students with significant communication delays including autism spectrum disorder and other pervasive developmental disorders. Our CLASS program at Walden offers intensive individualized instruction and related services to students ages 5 through 15 in an 8:1:1 setting. Each class is staffed by a collaborating half-time speech/language therapist in addition to the certified special education classroom teacher and teaching assistant or teacher’s aide. Students in our CLASS program have the opportunity to move into our CLASS Transitions program at Walden at 16 years of age.

INTENSIVE THERAPEUTIC SUPPORT PROGRAM (ITSP) ELEMENTARY CO-SER 402

Our Elementary ITSP program provides temporary, intensive therapeutic support for students in grades K-6 who are experiencing acute crisis and are not able to attend their typical school setting or are transitioning in or out of a psychiatric setting. The focus of the program is on emotional re-regulation, goal setting and preparing the student for return to their previous or new educational program. ITSP is not a special education service provider but does serve students with special needs as well as general education students. Work is provided by and returned to the program of origin to maintain continuity of instruction and ease the student’s return to program. Elementary students attend the ITSP program in the Walden School on our main campus. THE LEARNING CENTER AT WALDEN

CO-SER 243

The Learning Center program offers instruction in academics and positive behaviors as well as related services for students with social, emotional and behavioral difficulties. This program is available to students in grades K-8 in an 8:1:1 setting with counseling support provided according to the student's IEP and/or individual need. Social skills development, including skills specific to emotional and behavioral regulation, are integral and woven into the daily program. Additional related services can be provided per each student's IEP.

COLLABORATIVE LANGUAGE ACADEMIC AND SOCIAL SKILLS (CLASS) TRANSITIONS AT WALDEN CO-SER 204

CSILLA MATE CMATE@PNWBOCES.ORG (914) 248-2250

Transitions at Walden is an 8:1:1 program designed for students ages 16 through 21 who struggle with significant communication delays including autism spectrum disorder. This program provides experiences that will best prepare young adults for the transition from school into the adult world. The program emphasizes skills in the following strands: community experiences, job training/volunteer work, life skills and activities of daily living. Students also participate in the Practical Assessment Exploration System (PAES) vocational assessment lab in our vocational center housed on the main PNW BOCES campus.

THE PINES BRIDGE SCHOOL

CSILLA MATE, PRINCIPAL CMATE@PNWBOCES.ORG (914) 248-2250

Located on the PNW BOCES main campus in Yorktown, the Pines Bridge School provides a variety of learning environments for students ages 5 to 21 with multiple disabilities.

THE PINES BRIDGE PROGRAM CO-SER 215

The Pines Bridge Program serves students ages 5 to 15 with multiple disabilities often with medical needs. Classes have an intensive 12:1:4 staff to student ratio (student: teacher: teaching assistant or aide) that allows for a wide variety of learning environments including specialized programs emphasizing communication, independence and mobility. Pines Bridge is the only public school in New York State to offer many of its students aquatic therapy in two state-of-the-art HydroWorx therapy pools. PINES BRIDGE AT SUNSHINE

CO-SER 216

Pines Bridge at Sunshine is a satellite school for students ages 5 to 21 with multiple disabilities who are too medically fragile to travel to the Pines Bridge School on the PNW BOCES campus. Sunshine students are provided with a specialized program in a nursing home setting at the Sunshine Children’s Home and Rehab Center in Ossining. Related services are also provided per each student’s IEP.

TRANSITIONS AT PINES BRIDGE CO-SER 215

Transitions at Pines Bridge is a 12:1:4 program designed for secondary students ages 16 to 21 with multiple disabilities, medical needs and/or developmental delays. This program provides experiences that will best prepare young adults for the transition from school into the adult world. The program emphasizes skills in the following strands: community experiences, job training/volunteer work, life skills and activities of daily living. Students also participate in the Practical Assessment Exploration System (PAES) vocational assessment lab in our vocational center housed on the main PNW BOCES campus.

FOX MEADOW HIGH SCHOOL

TURNELL SIMS, PRINCIPAL TSIMS@PNWBOCES.ORG (914) 248-3640

The Fox Meadow High School is located on PNW BOCES’ Fox Meadow campus in Yorktown Heights.

THE LEARNING CENTER AT FOX MEADOW CO-SER 212

Fox Meadow High School is an academically and emotionally supportive program that serves students in grades 9-12 who struggle with social, emotional and/or behavioral difficulties. The program follows a Regents curriculum and offers dually certified teachers, small class sizes (8:1:1 student to staff ratio), positive behavior supports, peer mediation, conflict resolution, social skills curriculum and access to mental health services. Students are assigned a lead teacher and clinician (psychologist, social worker or school counselor) who monitor and support their progress. Social/emotional skill development, behavioral regulation strategies, college/career readiness skills, self-advocacy skills and transition planning are integrated into the program. Related services, including Speech/Language Therapy; Occupational Therapy; Physical Therapy; and Counseling and Reading services are available based on individual need and/or according to the student's IEP. Fox Meadow students additionally have the opportunity to participate in career and vocational education both on the Fox Meadow campus and at the Career and Technical Education Center on the PNW BOCES main campus. INTENSIVE THERAPEUTIC SUPPORT PROGRAM (ITSP) SECONDARY

CO-SER 402

Our Secondary ITSP program provides temporary, intensive therapeutic support for students in grades 7-12 who are experiencing acute crisis, are not able to attend their home school or who are transitioning in or out of a psychiatric setting. The focus of the program is on emotional re-regulation, goal setting and preparing to return to the student's previous or new educational setting. Secondary students attend the ITSP program on the Fox Meadow campus.

BACK ON TRACK CO-SER 402

Back on Track is an on-site tutoring service on the Fox Meadow campus for students in grades 7-12 who have been suspended from school for either a long or short term. Students may attend and receive instructional support from dually certified teachers to complete work provided and graded by their home district. A student assistance counselor is on staff to provide students with counseling, behavioral and goal-setting supports. Back on Track is not a special education service provider.

LOCAL SCHOOL BUILDING PROGRAMS

DR. MELISSA CAFARO, SUPERVISOR MCAFARO@PNWBOCES.ORG (914) 248-2363

Several BOCES programs are housed in school districts throughout the region. Local School Building (LSB) programs are designed for students who require a small, structured setting, but are able to participate in a general education environment with support for selected activities and/or academic classes.

COLLABORATIVE LANGUAGE ACADEMIC AND SOCIAL SKILLS (CLASS) AT LSB CO-SER 218

The CLASS programs in local school buildings are located in the Somers School District. CLASS is a program for students with significant communication delays including autism spectrum disorder and other pervasive developmental disorders. Our CLASS LSB program offers intensive individualized instruction and related services to students ages 5 through 21 in a 12:1:1 setting (student: teacher: teaching assistant or aide). Each class is staffed by a collaborating halftime speech/language therapist in addition to the certified special education classroom teacher and teaching assistant or teacher’s aide. At age 18 students have the option of transferring to the Transitions program on our main campus to take advantage of additional workbased opportunities.

LEARNING CENTER AT LSB CO-SER 222

Learning Center programs in local school buildings are located in the Lakeland and Somers school districts. The Learning Center program offers instruction in academics and positive behaviors as well as related services for students with social, emotional and behavioral difficulties. These programs are available to students in grades K-8 in a 12:1:1 (student: teacher: teaching assistant or aide) setting with counseling support provided for all students. Social skills development, including skills specific to emotional and behavioral regulation, are integral and woven into the daily program. Additional related services can be provided per each student's IEP. FALLS ACADEMY AT MAHOPAC FALLS

CO-SER 211

Falls Academy is a collaborative program with the Mahopac Central School District. This is a unique academy-based program for both general education and special education students in grades 6-8 who are academically proficient but have social and/or emotional struggles. Challenges that impact their ability to fully access the curriculum or attend school can include anxiety, school phobia, depression and/or social isolation.

The program combines a predictable, skills-focused therapeutic learning environment with an academically rigorous curriculum, so that students are able to acquire the skills necessary for both academic and social and emotional success. All students in the program receive counseling services. Additionally, social skills instruction is infused into the curriculum using a Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) model.

OASIS AT WALTER PANAS HIGH SCHOOL CO-SER 223

OASIS is a collaborative program with the Lakeland Central School District. It supports both general education and special education students in grades 9-12 who are academically proficient but struggle to be successful due to delays in acquiring the social, emotional and coping skills necessary to fully participate in a mainstream high school program. This program offers a supported Regents curriculum in conjunction with therapeutic social and emotional support. In addition, a skills curriculum is provided to develop organizational and study skills. All students in the program receive weekly counseling services, and social skills instruction is infused into the curriculum using a Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) model. Students in this program also have the opportunity to participate in our Tech Center vocational programs.

RELATED AND SHARED SUPPORT SERVICES

DR. NICOLE GINEXI, COORDINATOR NGINEXI@PNWBOCES.ORG (914) 248-3803

VISUALLY IMPAIRED

CO-SER 301

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY

CO-SER 313

The teacher of the visually impaired provides special instruction, accommodation, modification, consultation, and/or support for students with a diagnosed visual acuity impairment who are enrolled in a regular school program or a BOCES program. Occupational therapy services are provided to ensure that special education students can benefit from their educational program by enhancing their visual perception, sensory processing, fine motor skills, and/or activities of daily living. These services are provided by a licensed occupational therapist.

HEARING IMPAIRED CO-SER 302

The teacher of the hearing impaired provides special instruction, accommodation, modification, consultation, and/or support for students with a diagnosed hearing impairment who are enrolled in a regular school program or a BOCES program. INDIVIDUAL OR GROUP COUNSELING

CO-SER 314

Individual or group counseling services are provided by school psychologists, school counselors and/or school social workers to help students to more fully benefit from their educational program by supporting their social and emotional development.

SPEECH AND LANGUAGE THERAPY CO-SER 307

Speech and Language Therapy is designed to assist students in special education programs who require speech and language intervention in order to benefit from their educational program. These services are provided by a certified speech and language therapist and are available to students in our BOCES programs per IEP recommendation. REMEDIAL READING

CO-SER 315

Reading/literacy specialists work intensively with identified students to provide specific strategies to identify their individual needs and enhance their reading/language arts skills.

PHYSICAL THERAPY CO-SER 312

Physical therapy services are provided to ensure that special education students can safely participate in, and benefit from, the appropriate educational program by enhancing their gross motor strength, coordination and/or balance. These services are provided by a licensed physical therapist.

AQUA THERAPY AND POOLS

The Pines Bridge School and the Walden School are the only public schools in New York State to offer many of their students aqua therapy in two, state-of-the-art HyrdroWorx therapy pools. The pools, which are also used by leading children’s hospitals and rehabilitation centers, have built-in, underwater treadmills, hydro massage and underwater video monitoring. The entire floor of the pool can be raised to the height of the surrounding floor, enabling easy access for children with disabilities. The child is simply moved onto the floor of the pool and gently lowered into the water. With video monitoring, physical and occupational therapists can record a student’s therapy session and keep a detailed record of the student’s progress.

THERAPEUTIC CANINE PROGRAM

Disney is Walden’s favorite staff member and is a wonderful asset to the Walden School. From greeting students as they enter the building, to supporting students in their individual therapy sessions, classroom visits and assisting with emotional support and regulation, the students at Walden benefit greatly just by Disney’s presence. Students advocate for themselves by requesting time with Disney when they are feeling unsettled and need a break. The students are also practicing daily living skills with Disney by brushing her teeth, cleaning her ears and brushing her fur. Knowing Disney has daily personal hygiene needs helps the students with their daily hygiene needs as they wash their hands before and after being with Disney. The students work on functional communication, body awareness, emotional regulation, functional movement and pace, coordination skills, balance and safety skills while with Disney. The students are eager to work with Disney and are highly motivated to be with her.

PAES LAB

The PAES (Practical Assessment Exploration Systems) allows students to explore different vocational activities using a hands-on curriculum in a simulated work environment to assess their vocational skills, needs and interests. In the lab, students become employees and staff become supervisors while students engage in differing tasks of successive complexity and length. Students are encouraged to work independently and mature their problem-solving skills. The lab is used to assess a student's competitive work potential and interest level, while simultaneously exploring various jobs, using real tools, and developing proper work behaviors in the following five areas: Consumer/Service, Business/Marketing, Processing/Production, Construction/Industrial, Computer/Technology. Data is collected on students’ interests, independence, enjoyment and skill development while working in the lab and is used to inform and develop matching work sites and vocational experiences.