Former OCM BOCES District Superintendent Named Education Leader of the Year

Congratulations to (former) OCM BOCES District Superintendent, Dr. Jessica F. Cohen, for having been named Education Leader of the Year by the Partners for Education and Business (PEB,) an affiliate of MACNY, The Manufacturers Association of Central New York. Dr. Cohen was presented with the award at PEB’s 2012 Annual Meeting on May 22 at a ceremony at the MOST (Museum of Science and Technology) in downtown Syracuse.

PEB presents their Education Leader of the Year award annually to a person who demonstrates a quality of leadership that results in positive outcomes for student achievement and in preparing students for their future careers.

Among the many reasons Dr. Cohen was selected for the award, PEB cites her dedication to improving the quality of education, commitment to public support and ability to build good employee relations among teachers and staff. PEB Executive Director, Joseph C. Vargo said, 
“We are pleased to recognize Dr. Jessica Cohen for her commitment to youth and the needs of employers in our region. Dr. Cohen’s prior appointments as an Educational Consultant, School Psychologist and Director of School Improvement Services have helped to form the virtues that can mean the difference between an average and an inspired education experience.”

Dr. Cohen was the District Superintendent for OCM BOCES from 2003 until her retirement on July 31, 2012.

Adult Graduates' Stories Featured in Local Media

Graduates of OCM BOCES Syracuse-area adult literacy programs were recently featured in the Syracuse Post Standard in an article entitled "True equivalency: Adult wisdom evens out teenage mistakes." To read the online version of the article, click on the link.

Pictured are Reggie Dennis (right) and Fred Gustina (left,) two of the featured speakers at the OCM BOCES 29th Annual Adult Literacy Celebration at The Palace Theatre.

Syracuse-Area Adult Literacy Celebration - May 23

Next Wednesday, May 23, 2012 at 7:00 pm, OCM BOCES will hold its 29th Annual (Syracuse-area) Literacy Celebration and program graduation at the Palace Theatre (2384 James Street) in Syracuse. Nearly 200 graduates of the OCM BOCES GED, External Diploma and other literacy programs have been invited to attend and be recognized for their accomplishments.

Testimonials illustrating their personal, educational struggles prior to coming to OCM BOCES, will be given by three student graduates, Fred Gustina, Reggie Dennis and Melissa Doris. OCM BOCES ESL student Sadija Selimovic, who recently received her United States Citizenship, will give the Pledge of Allegiance. The Altamont Program, part of the Peter Young Housing, Industries and Treatment program, will be recognized as the OCM BOCES 2012 “Partner in Literacy”.

The public and media are invited to attend this celebration. For more information on the 29th Annual Adult Literacy Celebration, contact OCM BOCES Adult and Continuing Education Program at 315-453-4466.

Laboratory Technology Students Support Local Charity

On Tuesday, May 1, 2012, OCM BOCES students from the Laboratory Technology Program at the Irvin E. Henry Campus in Syracuse delivered approximately 135 pounds of “pop tabs” to the Ronald McDonald House of Central New York. The tabs were collected during the group’s seven-month campus wide effort with all Career and Technical Education (CTE) students.

Earlier in the school year, the students were learning about recycling and reducing as part of their science curriculum and decided to do some recycling of their own for a good cause. In October, the students began collecting pop tabs to support the charity. Ronald McDonald Houses collect pop tabs instead of whole aluminum cans as a way of raising funds for their centers. After the Ronald McDonald house collects tabs, they are brought to local recycling centers, where they are weighed to determine the value. The recycling center then sends the charity a check for the value of the tabs.

 The Laboratory Technology students involved in the collection efforts brought the donations to the Ronald McDonald house and also performed a variety of community service projects while they were there. Some of the tasks that the students completed at the home included helping to clean the kitchen, reorganizing the pantry and vacuuming hallways in the house.