This was the first Dutchess BOCES open house for teachers Wendy Wabshinak and Michael Hollick. It was their opportunity to share with parents a little bit about themselves, the course curriculum and the great work being done by students in the first two-plus months of the school year.
The Career and Technical Institute and Resilience Academy each held their open house on Nov. 20.
Hollick started in January and is an art teacher in his first full year at the Resilience Academy, where his students' artwork was displayed in the hallway to the right of the building’s main entrance.
“We got a new hanging system for the hallways, which is a professional gallery system,” Hollick said. “The kids have been so excited to see their work up. Pegasus students are thrilled to see the mural being displayed that they made last year. I’m just very excited. The adrenaline is definitely flowing.”
Hollick added, “I’m always excited to see their families, see where they come from and get to know them a little better. The more I know about them, the more effectively I’m able to inspire them.”
Wabshinak is teaching cosmetology in CTI after 22-year career as a hairstylist and salon owner.
“I’m hoping the parents get to know me a little bit more and how I’m teaching their children, what I’m going to be teaching them in each year of the program,” she said. 
The teachers spent the first part of the evening discussing who they are and the course curriculum. The second portion of the evening was an opportunity for parent/teacher conferences.
“I can give them some insight into what they’ll be learning this year, and basically let them see the classroom, see what the students have already accomplished,” said Amy McCann, Spanish teacher at Resilience Academy.
“I have some of the Spanish-speaking countries they’ve researched on the wall for the parents to see. We spent a lot of time discussing the different Spanish-speaking countries because there are 21 of them and just having them make that realization that it’s one of the most widely spoken languages has been great. Another thing that’s been great is making connections with them because Spanish is the second largest language spoken in this country.”
Sebastian Yeung, instructor of CTI’s fashion design and merchandising program, had clothes displayed that were designed and tailored by students.
“Parents really want to know what they’re learning,” he said. “In two months and two weeks, this is what they’ve learned, so they will see it.”
The students are preparing clothes for a fashion expo that will be held in the spring at the Dutchess BOCES Conference Center.
“They’ll see the growth of the students,” Yeung said in comparing the clothing created now to what may be used at the fashion expo.
Administrators at both schools also participated and were available to meet with families. The Resilience Academy was a name change for the school during Kiesha Tillman’s first year as principal in 2023-2024, and the seven Cs of resilience – competence, confidence, connection, character, contribution, coping and control -- are seen and heard each day by students.
“Open house is always an exciting time where we open our doors to families and we celebrate some of the great things happening here,” she said.