We’re celebrating Mentorship Month throughout November with a series of mentoring success stories from the Regional Mentoring Program, including this spotlight on one of the volunteer mentors.
Mary Branham believes that a good professional network is a key to success. When it came to mentoring a student, she turned that believe into action– in many different ways. Branham is President of Pivotel LLC, a telecommunications services company based in Norwich.
First, Branham’s network brought the mentoring opportunity to her attention. Branham is involved with Development Chenango Corporation, a partner organization of Commerce Chenango, and learned of the mentoring program through that connection. She was interested, and that interest was shared by one her network connections, Jenna Ostrander, Economic Development Specialist at Chenango Commerce. “Development Chenango had a big hand in making sure the mentor program started off well,” according to Branham. “I have to give kudos to Jenna– we wanted to have a goal that Chenango County got the most mentors” of the three counties involved, and Ostrander helped promote the program to successfully pull in plenty of eager mentors.
Then, Branham got a surprise when she found out who she would be mentoring, because it was someone who was already in her network– sort of. “We’ve known each other since she was born,” Branham said of her new mentee. That close connection allowed the two to quickly have a good rapport, and they built a strong mentoring relationship. Their conversations covered a wide range – from career to college to dealing with setbacks. “I always tell people, first and foremost, when it comes to your career path, if at any point you find out that it is maybe not your career path after all, and you want to change it, do not look at it as a failure.”
Branham’s mentee did in fact have a particular career in mind, and so once again, Branham reached out to her network and pulled in three professional practitioners in the field her student was interested in, setting up meetings with each, allowing the student to hear about different aspects of the field, and getting specific advice on exploring different options, including how to study for it in college. Branham reinforced good networking practices with her mentee, encouraging her to follow up with the practitioners she was introduced to. “Never underestimate how important it is to make connections with the people you’ll need to deal with.”
The importance of having a good network seems to have been embraced by Branham’s mentee, who she is still in touch with, and still advising. Branham enjoyed the experience, and considers it to have been successful, but not just because of Branham and her network. “The reason why it was so successful was also the student. She went beyond the required commitment. She was very invested in this as well.”
This week, 71 students were inducted into the National Technical Honor Society in ceremonies held on each campus. We'll share more photos and a fuller report soon, but in the meantime, congratulations to our new NTHS members!
DCMO BOCES is hiring! Come visit our Human Resources team at the Job Fair on the SUNY Morrisville Norwich campus today from 2 pm to 4 pm. Learn about our openings and ask questions.
The Chenango County Board of Supervisors declared the month of November as Mentorship Month at their November meeting Monday.
The celebration marks the successful completion of the DCMO BOCES Mentorship Program Pilot and the transition of the program to the Regional Mentorship Program to be led in the Chenango County region by Commerce Chenango. Receiving the proclamation were Martha Ryan, Public and School Liaison for DCMO BOCES, and Commerce Chenango President and CEO, Salvatore Testani.
Ryan addressed board members and said, “Your efforts today send a very strong message to our community that mentoring is a powerful tool to keep our young workers right here in our region.”
The Foundation for South Central New York funded the new mentorship platform that will recruit new mentors and will provide online access to students. Stacy Mastrogiacomo, the foundation’s Program Officer, expressed their excitement about the program, saying “We were thrilled to be able to help support this program. By fostering mentorship, we are not merely investing in education; we are investing in the sustained growth and prosperity of our community. The success of this program speaks for itself and we are honored to have been a part of it.”
In addition to the financial support from the Community Foundation for South Central New York, the program recruitment efforts were funded by The Greater Norwich Foundation and Visions FCU. The mentorship pilot implemented in 2023 was funded by the Appalachian Regional Commission.
According to Ryan, Commerce Chenango is well-positioned to lead the program in collaboration with the Otsego and Delaware County chambers, making it able to serve not only BOCES students, but all school students in the region. Ryan added that the program is looking for volunteer mentors to begin serving students in February of 2024. Individuals interested in volunteering as a mentor can contact Jenna Ostrander at Commerce Chenango at 607-334-1400.
We’re celebrating Mentorship Month throughout November with a series of mentoring success stories from the Regional Mentoring Program, including this spotlight on one of the volunteer mentors.
Local businessman Chris Hayes didn’t join the Regional Mentoring Program until it was already underway, but he didn’t let that affect the mentoring of his two mentees. “We worked with the time limitations that we had, and had an abbreviated experience as a result, but a good one,” said Hayes, owner of Hayes Office Supplies and Norwich Copies Plus in downtown Norwich.
Hayes worked with two mentees in the program, and drew upon his own appreciation of mentoring and its impact on his professional life. “I’m a self-employed individual and always have been, and I’ve always leaned on mentors to help me on my path,” he said. “And not necessarily mentors that I know personally,” he continued. Hayes is a big fan of Robert Kiyosaki, author of Rich Dad, Poor Dad, and Steven Covey, the man behind The 7 Habits of Highly Successful People books. “The stuff that they teach was and is a very valuable guidepost that I use each and every day. So I wanted to share some of that with them.” As someone who’s run a business for several decades, Hayes felt a little sense of duty, too. “Along the way, you gather some experience, you gotta give it away,” and the mentoring program offered a great opportunity to share his experience.
But it wasn’t just Hayes doing the talking– his mentees needed to hold up their end of things, too. “We spent a good amount of time learning about them,” he said of his two mentees. Hayes really wanted to understand where they were at, and where they were going. “They’re looking to step out on the next phase of their journey,” he said, and he found their conversations rewarding. “I was very pleased. I enjoyed the interaction. These two young men weren’t just punching a ticket,” he said. “They were very interactive and enthusiastic and engaging.”
Hayes had something he wanted to get out of the experience as well. “We’re always looking for talent,” he said. “By getting in front of young people, especially young people from BOCES who are hands-on oriented, we’re trying to get a sense of what these kids are like today and see if there are any entrepreneurs out there,” he said. His mentee meetings appear to have left him feeling optimistic. “This showed me that there’s some promise in the youth of today. They communicated well, they demonstrated good people skills. My big takeaway: I’ve learned we’ve got some sharp people out there. We’re in pretty good shape going forward.”
“I’m encouraged by the quality of the interaction and encouraged by the quality of the students coming out of the BOCES program,” he said. Left me feeling pretty good.”
The mentoring program will now be coordinated by Commerce Chenango, Delaware County Chamber of Commerce and Otsego Chamber of Commerce. For more information on how to become a mentor, visit the chamber organizations’ website. For students’ access to mentoring services or to learn more about mentoring support, visit www.dcmoboces.com.
DCMO BOCES welcomed business and industry professionals from a number of fields to both campuses this week. Our industry expert teachers met with their Career and Technical Education Consultant Committees members to advise them on curriculum, equipment, facilities and other topics related to the fields associated with the programs. The consultants were served dinner prepared by the Culinary Arts students at each campus, and then met with teachers in the program classrooms and labs. The Consultant Committee Dinners were held at Pole Campus on Tuesday and Harold Campus on Thursday. Photos are from Harrold Campus.
On November 5-7, 2023, four students and their advisors from The Alan D. Pole Campus attended the SkillsUSA Fall Leadership Conference in Albany, NY. Students participated in group trainings and activities that centered around the SkillsUSA Framework. These students plan to take what they have learned and share it with other SkillsUSA members in our chapter.
The Robert W. Harrold Campus celebrated Native American Month with a great meal at lunchtime, inspired by Native American traditions: Three Sisters Stew with Boulette (boiled meatballs) and Cornbread Muffins, accompanied by fruit and milk. Delicious! The world is full of tasty and interesting food, and each month the campus food service picks an international cuisine to celebrate, complete with flags! Hats off to Lisa, Brandi, Mike and Connie for today’s feast!
On November 5-7, 2023, six students from the DCMO BOCES Robert W. Harrold campus attended the SkillsUSA Fall Leadership conference in Albany, NY. The students participated in leadership training focusing on the SkillsUSA framework. Pictured from left to right: Cailyn Wood, CNA, Unatego; Aireonna Beardalee, CNA, Walton; Hailey Byam, Culinary Arts, Unatego; McKenna Tilley, Culinary Arts, GMU; Baylee Lowe, CNA, Unatego; and Rosanna Lambert, Culinary Arts, Sidney.
The Pole Campus College and Career Center team has been busy, preparing students for life after graduation! The Assistant Director of Financial Aid from SUNY Morrisville recently presented a Financial Aid 101 Workshop to graduating Seniors; we’ll also be hosting a working session with students and parents in January once the new improved FAFSA is available. An Admissions representative from Mohawk Valley Community College also provided an informational table to Juniors and Seniors. The Armed Services Voluntary Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) was administered on November 1, and our comprehensive Career Exploration program will be starting in just a few weeks!
Educational professionals from several area school districts attended a Science Investigations (Grades 3, 4, 5) professional learning workshop at the DCMO BOCES Support Services Center in Norwich today. A second Science Investigations (Grades 6, 7, 8) will take place Tuesday. The investigations are hands-on laboratory experiences that prepare students for the written Elementary- and Intermediate-level Science Tests measuring the NYS P-12 Science Learning Standards that are scheduled to be first administered in Grades 5 and 8 in Spring 2024. Betsy Hartnett, Assistant Director of Instructional Technology & School Library System presented today’s investigations, part of the many professional learning opportunities available to component school districts through DCMO BOCES Instructional Support Services.
Educational professionals from several area school districts attended “Using the FBA and BIP Process to Support Students Needing Intensive Intervention,” a professional learning workshop presented Wednesday and Thursday at the DCMO BOCES Support Services Center in Norwich. The training was led by Gretchen Jones, Behavioral Specialist with the Regional Partnership Center. This was one of the professional learning opportunities available to component school districts through DCMO BOCES Instructional Support Services.
Sgt. Shaffer and Sgt. Winter from the US Air Force visited the Security and Law classes on the Pole Campus today, speaking to students about opportunities with the Air Force, what they could expect, and how students enlist. Specifically, Sgts. Shaffer and Winter talked about security careers in the Air Force. Students were able to get some great information so they can make informed choices about careers.
Preschool and daycare children from DCMO BOCES Pole Campus in Norwich visited the DCMO BOCES Support Services Center this morning, showing off their fun costumes and maybe collecting a treat or two. Employees at the center certainly enjoyed the visit!
The Pole Campus Senior Carpentry and Building Trades students are busy working with the Chenango County Historical Society and the Rogers Environmental Education Center on a Sap House deconstruction/reconstruction project. The goal of the project is to disassemble the replica sap house on the Historical Society Campus, catalog the pieces, and reassemble the Sap House on the Rogers Center campus for use in the upcoming sapping season. Thanks to Jessica Moquin, Executive Director at CCHS and David Carson, Director at the Rogers Environmental Education Center for partnering with the DCMO BOCES CTE Work Experience program.
Teachers from 10 area school districts participated in LETRS professional learning at the DCMO BOCES Support Services Center this week. LETRS (Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling) is a professional learning course for instructors of reading, spelling, and related language skills. Over the twos days of training for LETRS Volume 1 & 2, teachers from the following district were in attendance: Bainbridge-Guilford CSD, South Kortright CSD, Hancock CSD, Cooperstown CSD, Andes CSD, Oxford Academy CSD, Delaware Academy CSD at Delhi, Gilbertsville-Mount Upton CSD, Afton CSD, and Downsville CSD. The sessions were led by Karen Ocque, LETRS Professional Learning Facilitator.
Two students from the Conservation and Heavy Equipment program at the Pole Campus are participating in a work experience with the Town of Plymouth Highway Department. Carson Rothwell and Zavier Bucksbee are hard at work on Pike Hill Road completing ditch work for the upcoming winter season. Thanks to Louie Redenback, current Town of Plymouth Highway Superintendent, for participating with the DCMO BOCES CTE Work Experience program!
Two DCMO BOCES employees have received recognition for their work from the New York School Public Relations Association (NYSPRA). Dean Russin, Public Information Specialist, was awarded an Award of Excellence for Social Media and an Award of Honor for Photography in the 2023 NYSPRA Communications Contest. Annette Bagnall, Graphic Designer II, received an Award of Honor for Strategic Campaign in the annual contest. Russin received both of his awards for work he did for Sherburne-Earlville Central School District, one of two area school districts he works with as a Public Information Specialist. Both the “A Star Is Born!” social media campaign and the photograph were from the “Marshall Man” movie project and premiere. Russin was recognized by NYSPRA last year as well. Bagnall received her Award of Honor in the Strategic Campaign category for the work done on the CTE Month promotion last February. The creative theme of the campaign recognized by NYSPRA was This is my classroom, emphasizing the CTE classroom for its unique hands-on learning for both high school students and young adults.
Ian Williams, representative from the Northeast Council of Carpenters, spoke with students in Building Trades classes at the Pole Campus in Norwich about careers with the union and what it takes to succeed in that type of setting. Students learned about benefits and pay, longevity, training and education, and different opportunities within the Carpenter's Union.
Congratulations to Assistant Director of Instructional Technologies and Coordinator of School Library System Betsy Hartnett. She and Ms. Catalina Charles, Otselic Valley CSD School Librarian, presented last week at the national conference of the American Association of School Librarians in Tampa, Florida. The AASL National Conference is the only national conference devoted solely to the needs of school librarians, and is held every two years in rotating locations around the country.
Thank you for representing DCMO BOCES on the national stage!
