Career & Tech's Alternative Education program:

Reflections from 2 recent grads

"I was given a second chance, and I proved myself"

An essay by Lily Stalker, Alternative Education and & Career & Tech Class of '06

The Alternative Education program offered at the Capital Region Career and Technical School has changed my life in more ways than one. I started my education here at BOCES last year [2004/05]. I was taking Culinary Arts. For many reasons that I will not go into, the personalities of the administrators at my home school and mine clashed horribly. I started skipping school and when I was in school, I was either sitting in the principal's office or in ISS [in school suspension].

Finally, I stopped going to school all together. I would sleep all morning, wake up at about 9 a.m. and go to Capital Region Career and Technical School for my culinary class. I had been trying to get into the Alternative Education program for a long time, but Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk would not allow me to. Only when I made my final decision to drop out of high school did they finally decide that I wasn't going to succeed to my full potential at RCS. I was sent to Capital Region Career and Technical School in order to receive the education that I needed, and deserved.

My Culinary Arts instructor, Chef D'Alessandro, tried her hardest to get me into the Alternative Education program as well. She talked to many counselors and then had them meet with me in order to see if I could really benefit from this program. Without the help of Chef D'Alessandro I would not have been able to get into the program and I would not have been able to reach where I have today.

Today I am enrolled in the Alternative Education program and have taken all my classes half year and passed all of my Regents in January. Now I will be graduating with my class like I am supposed to. I was also labeled 2006 outstanding scholar for the Capital Region Career and Technical School.

I have learned a lot from this program, and the most important is that a lot of people really do care. They want you to succeed and will do anything in their power to help you achieve your goals. If you need assistance, the teachers are always here to lend you a helping hand.
Because I am enrolled in this program, I am going to receive a high school diploma. Without this program that wouldn't have been possible. What more could I ask for? I have been given a second chance, and I have proved myself.

[Lily Stalker, who wrote the essay above in Spring of 2006, completed the Alternative Education and Lodging Management programs at Career & Tech in June 2006. During her junior year, she studied Culinary Arts & Hospitality at Career & Tech.]

"[Alternative Education teachers] were the inspiration and driving force behind my career choice"

A speech to students, staff and families at the annual Career & Tech Alternative Education program dinner, June '06

By Joshua Eiffe, Career & Tech and Alternative Education Class of '06

Good Evening. I want to thank everyone for coming to this special evening and for supporting the students here. My name is Joshua Eiffe and I am a senior at Shenendehowa High School in Clifton Park and here at the Capital Region Career and Technical School Alternative Education Program. Every student here has their own story on why they are here, but we are all here for a common purpose, to get the best education we can despite our difficulties. I would like to take this opportunity to tell you a little bit about myself, and how the Alternative Education program has impacted my life.

During my first two years of high school I didn't do as well as I could have. At age 14, just weeks before starting high school, my father passed away. My father's death made school very hard for me because of the emotional weight I carried. The loss of a parent is one of the most tragic things that can happen in a person's life, especially at such a young age. As my father's only next of kin I had to make all of his funeral arrangements. I didn't know how I felt, but I knew a huge part of me was missing.

This quickly led into severe depression and I found myself not wanting to go to school, wanting to drop out of boy scouts, the symphonic band, my church handbell choir and the church choir. By the end of my sophomore year I realized that my dad wouldn't want me to drop out of everything and ruin my future because of his death. I was not succeeding at Shenendehowa as the school was too large, with too many other students. Even though my teachers knew my situation, they didn't help because of the sheer size of each class.

At the end of my sophomore year, I learned about the Alternative Education Program here through friends that attended at the time. They told me what a great place it was and how awesome the teachers were. I figured that things couldn't get any worse than they already were, so I applied here to the Alternative Education Program and was accepted. I started my junior year here, and my life immediately started to change.

The classroom sizes are much smaller making it easier to focus, and offers more one on one attention from the teacher. My attitude started to change and I started thinking more about my future rather than my past. I have had my ups and downs since attending here, but the teachers and other staff know me personally, are aware of my situation, and have supported me during difficult times. I have done much better in my academics since attending here.

I owe everything that has happened in my life over the past two years to the amazing teachers that I have had here, which is every teacher in the Alternative Education program. They are all different but the same in one aspect. Each one gets to know every one of their students and their needs. They take the time to work with their students, to make sure that they get through difficult times, and that they walk away with the education and understanding that they need to succeed in life.

Through the support and encouragement of my family, friends, church and teachers, I earned the rank of Eagle Scout. Mrs. A helped me with my very last Merit Badge - Chemistry. Mr. Sweet and Mr. Bevin encouraged my writing skills, which helped me when I was applying for scholarships. I enjoyed Mrs. Collins Intro to Psychology class so much that I went out and bought a rat which I named YaYo, and have taught her many tricks. Mrs. G. encouraged my creative side, while Mr. Hazaz and Boz gave me the mathematical knowledge that I know I may need some day. Mr. Malloy and Mr. Paravella brought the big world, which we are all about to enter, into the classroom. Without the unconditional love and support of those around me, I could never have changed my life so that I could contribute to my community, which has made a difference in my life.

My main goal in life is to be the best person that I can be. To achieve this goal I have to start with smaller goals, the first one is to attend college to become an elementary/special education teacher. Becoming a teacher is not something that I had always wanted to be. I decided on this career choice at the end of my junior year, because I know first hand how much it means to a student to have a teacher that tries extra hard to always help you. I have had teachers that don't care, or don't have the time to give the extra to a student that needs it.

It has made all the difference in the world to me to have the teachers here at the Alternative Education program. They have not only been willing to help me, but have pushed me to succeed. Teachers play a very important role in a child's life. I know that I could be that one person that makes an impact on a child's life. I want to be like the teachers here who will do anything in their power to make a positive difference in our lives. I want to be that kind of teacher for someone someday.

After looking into colleges, the one that stood out the most was Keuka College. Keuka's early childhood education program is dual certified in both regular and special education, which is what I was looking for. Like the Alternative Education Program, Keuka offers small classrooms, with professors that get to know each of their students and are willing to give the extra that students need in order to succeed. After talking to students at the college I felt that Keuka was the right place for me to start on my chosen path. I applied to and was offered admission to Keuka, which I gratefully accepted.

I cannot change the past, but that I can learn from it. I have started changing my life for the better and I am proud of what I have done so far. I plan to continue on the path that I have created. I know in my heart that becoming a teacher would be the best thing that I could do with my life. Becoming a teacher would allow me to give back to my community.

One day I may have someone you know as one of my students. I hope that you will remember me and be proud that you were the inspiration and driving force behind my career choice. I thank you all very much for the privilege of being here tonight and for your faith in me. I am honored to have had each one of you as my teacher and for the opportunity to be a student in the Alternative Education Program.

[7.06]