Marilyn Burns Addresses Math Institute

Math Solutions founder, Marilyn Burns, made a special appearance at the OCM BOCES Network Team Math Solutions Institute. Marilyn has authored dozens of books, countless articles, and many resources for the teaching of mathematics. She addressed the Institute participants and other special guests on Friday, August 10th, on the OCM BOCES campus. Marilyn treated attendees to a close look at the Math Reasoning Inventory which is a free assessment tool that offers understanding about students’ reasoning abilities. The combination of her keen insight and experience, with a touch of humor, made for a special event and a great finale to the Institute.

The OCM BOCES Network Team Math Solutions Institute was three-day gathering of teachers of math from all of our districts. Focusing on the eight mathematical practices of the Common Core, participants learned how students best learn math and, therefore, how to best teach math. In the future, the OCM BOCES Network Team will provide support to districts as they change their teaching of math to be more aligned to best practices and the Common Core.

Pre-Kindergarten Students Participate in Their Own Olympic Games

Students in the OCM BOCES pre-kindergarten program at Children's Village (which is located at Parkhill Elementary School in the East Syracuse Minoa Central School District) celebrated an Olympic day on Friday, August 3rd. The students spent the week prior at school learning about the Olympic events and the history of the games. Emily Hunter, the classroom teacher, helped bring the lessons to life for the children by having them participate in a variety of Olympic events such as track and field (running, a torch relay, shot put and discus), gymnastics (balance beam, tumbling , and rings), bicycle races and soccer.  The Olympic fun day ended with a medal ceremony where each child was given a medal and a certificate for participating in the school's Olympics.

Jody F. Manning is new OCM BOCES District Superintendent

The Onondaga-Cortland-Madison Board of Cooperative Educational Services is very pleased to welcome Mr. Jody F. Manning as the new District Superintendent of Schools as of Wednesday, August 1st, 2012.

Mr. Manning formerly served as the Superintendent of Schools at the Solvay Union Free School District. He has served as a business administrator and district clerk, a grade level administrator, assistant principal and teacher.  He has also had experience as a summer school principal, adult education instructor and chaired a Superintendent’s Issue & Analysis Team.

Mr. Manning has received numerous awards and recognitions for his work and is a member of several professional educational organizations.  He has also participated in multiple professional development opportunities over the years.

Board President Ann Wright stated, “The OCM BOCES Board of Education enthusiastically welcomes Mr. Manning.  We look forward to working with him to continue to provide quality services for students, school districts and the CNY communities that OCM BOCES serves.”

Terri Wood of OCM BOCES McEvoy Educational Campus is Cortland Rotary Teacher of the Year

Congratulations to Terri Wood, an OCM BOCES classroom teacher at the McEvoy Educational Campus in Cortland, for being named the 2012 Cortland Rotary Teacher of the Year.  Terri, who has been teaching for nearly 30 years, works with students that have multiple disabilities.

Terri has been commended for serving every student as an individual with her coworkers noting, “Whether the struggle is with paralysis, blindness, deafness, seizures, autism, or other significant cognitive deficits, Terri’s innovative, organized and supportive teaching has helped her students become successful adults in supported environments.”

Terri is dedicated to enhancing educational experiences for students at the McEvoy Educational Campus. She chairs the building committee to organize enrichment programs, coordinates the school’s annual spring show and year-end awards ceremony and oversees publication of the school yearbook. Terri also rallies staff to provide service-oriented, interactive community visits for students.
Terri is referred to as an educational leader who puts service above self.

Terri is pictured with former OCM BOCES District Superintendent Jessica F. Cohen.

Westhill Assistant Superintendent is OCM BOCES School Library System 2012 Administrator of the Year

Dr. Carol Ilacqua, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction for the Westhill Central School District, has been honored by the OCM BOCES School Library System as their 2012 Administrator/Advocate of the Year.  Dr. Ilacqua was nominated by several of her district’s librarians: Karin Backus, Beth Doolittle, Karen Fenner and Aneisa Linton. She was recognized at a reception held in the OCM BOCES Rodax 8 Conference Room.

The intention of the award is to honor an educational administrator or library advocate in the OCM region who has made significant contributions to school librarianship.

Dr. Ilacqua was chosen to receive the award for her professionalism and support of school library programs and services.  She is a former member of the SLS Council, a supporter of the PALS initiative, and encourages Project Based Learning by providing extensive training.

Carol’s coworkers value the support she provides to them, saying, “Carol is an active listener and when she hears a concern being voiced, works to find a solution. She is approachable and accessible to everyone in the district. Our staff regards her highly because she exhibits fair judgment and reason in any situation.”

She is also recognized for her ability to utilize technology to teach her peers.  Cited in her nomination, “Carol embraces technology, using her Blackboard site to post agendas and meeting minutes. By using this medium exclusively, she leads by example and creates a successful opportunity to use technology for those teachers that might otherwise be hesitant.”

For more information about the OCM BOCES School Library System or their Administrator/Advocate of the Year Award, visit their website at http://sls.ocmboces.org/.

NYS Superintendents Council commends Governor Cuomo for adding Jessica Cohen to Education Reform Commission

June 14, 2012 - The state Council of School Superintendents today commended Governor Andrew Cuomo for his addition of Jessica Cohen to the Education Reform Commission he established in April.

Dr. Cohen is retiring next month as District Superintendent of Onondaga-Cortland-Madison Board of Cooperative Educational Services.

Robert Reidy, Executive Director of the Superintendents Council, called her “a perfect choice.”

Reidy added, “Schools are going through a period of intense change now, with the implementation of new teacher and principal evaluation requirements, the transition to Common Core State Standards, and other Race to the Top initiatives. It is important for the Governor’s Commission to understand the effects of current state initiatives on schools as it considers new ones.”

Reidy went on, “Jessica is superbly qualified to give the other Commission members a sense of the demands educators and students are wrestling with right now.” He explained, “As a BOCES Superintendent, Jessica performs a dual role as chief executive of a regional school support agency, and as liaison between the Education Commissioner and Syracuse area school districts.” 

“Those two roles give her an exceptional grasp of both state policy and how it is affecting schools and students,” Reidy observed.

Click here to read the release from the New York State Council of School Superintendents.

Search Completed for New District Superintendent

The Onondaga-Cortland-Madison Board of Cooperative Educational Services is very pleased to announce that Mr. Jody F. Manning was appointed by the Board as the new District Superintendent of Schools at their June 6th meeting.

Mr. Manning currently serves as the Superintendent of Schools at the Solvay Union Free School District and has demonstrated extensive leadership experience throughout his career in education.  He has served as a business administrator and district clerk, a grade level administrator, assistant principal and teacher.  He has also had experience as a summer school principal, adult education instructor and chaired a Superintendent’s Issue & Analysis Team.

Mr. Manning is actively involved in his community, has received numerous awards and recognitions for his work and is a member of several professional educational organizations.  He has also participated in multiple professional development opportunities over the years.

The extensive search and selection process began in January and Mr. Manning was chosen by the Board as the final candidate from a pool of nine applicants.  He met with specific stakeholder groups, including component superintendents, BOCES administrators and both instructional and non-instructional staff.   Mr. Manning also met with the Commissioner of Education for the purpose of a final interview and assessment of his qualifications and experience.  That interview was completed and the Commissioner communicated his approval of Mr. Manning’s proposed appointment.

Mr. Manning will assume the position of District Superintendent on August 1, 2012.

Board President Ann Wright stated, “The OCM BOCES Board of Education enthusiastically welcomes Mr. Manning.  We are looking forward to working with him to continue to provide quality services for students, school districts and the CNY communities that OCM BOCES serves.”

Click here to read the article on Syracuse.com.