Dutchess BOCES faculty and staff are always learning and one example of that is Superintendent’s Conference Day, during which various training sessions were offered, all to help better meet student needs.
BOCES staff and administrators taught about social emotional learning, using the i-Ready online program - which determines a student’s needs to personalize their learning, security and more.
In a training about best practices for academic integration for Career and Technical Institute instructors, Principal Nick Millas highlighted the importance of creating an accepting environment for BOCES’ diverse population, as well as celebrating their respective cultures where appropriate.
“It’s about understanding, appreciating, valuing…if you show and demonstrate those things are acceptable and have opportunities to process it with those students, they feel more comfortable,” Millas said. “The more connection you can make to someone’s culture, the more welcome and affirming that environment is.”
Director of Facilities & Operations Cole Bender led two trainings on all procedures that greeters need to know when allowing people to enter any building at BOCES. Making a quick assessment of someone visiting, checking their ID and sending them to the right location are vital elements of the job. For other employees it is crucial not minimize a greeter’s integrity or authority if they let someone into a building. 
“The person that sits behind that desk should be empowered,” Bender said. “The more knowledge that they have and understanding of what goes on here, the better they feel about it.”
Alternative High School receptionist Eugenio Namarubessy found Bender’s training helpful as it reinforced protocols for various situations he may face in his role.
“I definitely needed this day to help me in my position,” Namarubessy said.
Another training about inclusion stuck with Namarubessy, particularly when presenter Dagmar Luciano spoke about being mindful of everyone’s feelings.
“You never know what anyone’s going through and that’s something we always have to keep in the back of our mind,” he said. “We want to facilitate a very comfortable, safe environment where anyone can talk to anyone.”
Salt Point Center special education teacher Amanda Byrnes looks forward to implementing what she learned in a course about enacting curriculum in her class.
“I’m really hoping I can work to come to closer targets with the students I’ll be working with,” Byrnes said. “It’s really exciting to use.”