What is Ulster BOCES?
Britney Heins

Ulster BOCES means different things to different people.

To Britney Heins, a former Ulster BOCES Early Childhood Education student, Ulster BOCES meant getting a foundation in childhood development, which prepared her to enter the The College of Saint Rose, where she attends on a full-tuition scholarship.

Britney’s first introduction to Ulster BOCES was 16 years ago, when she attended the Child Care Center for two years as a preschooler. “I can still remember the Halloween party!” laughs Britney.

Pursuing a career in the educational field has been something Britney has aspired to do since second grade. “When I was younger, it was kind of a rough time for me. My parents were divorced. I always loved going to school because it was my escape from the fighting and stuff, and my teachers kind of helped me deal with that,” recalls Britney.

As a result of her early experience, Britney decided she wanted to help other children, just as her teachers had once helped her. In 2004, when she was a junior at Kingston High School, Britney enrolled in the Ulster BOCES Early Childhood Education program and was once again in the familiar surroundings of the Child Care Center she once attended as a child.

Britney especially enjoyed the hands-on aspect of the program. “The fact that I actually interacted with children, went to the lab sites, and learned the State guidelines and regulations, was a definite plus. For me, it’s just so fulfilling when you work with a child, and if they do not understand something, it’s your help that gets them to that next level. When you know you really helped a child, it’s really fulfilling. I love that. Even when you’re working with infants, if they’re crying, you can go pick them up and when they start smiling, you know you helped them. It’s a great feeling.”

Another positive aspect of attending the Career & Technical Center for Britney was the socialization and interaction with the staff and the students from other school districts in Ulster County. “The relationships you develop are just great. I made friends from the Wallkill and Rondout Valley School Districts that I would never have met otherwise, and my teacher, Michelle Friedel, was like my best friend!” claims Britney.

In between attending classes at Kingston High School and the Ulster BOCES Career & Technical Center, Britney honed her teaching skills as a math tutor for fourth grade students. She also worked with first and third grade students in the TOPS (Teachers, Organizations, and Parents for Students) after-school and summer programs at the George Washington Elementary School in Kingston. “I really enjoyed working with the children,” says Britney. “Sometimes it’s a challenge, but once you break through to a child, it means so much. At first, many of the kids shied away and didn’t talk, but then by the end of the year, they love you, so it’s really fun. I really enjoyed working with the young children.”

In June 2006, Britney, an Honor Roll student, graduated in the top ten percent of her class from Kingston High School. She also participated in the Ulster BOCES Career & Technical Center’s Achievement Ceremony, where she received the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) Outstanding Student Award and was one of the featured guest speakers during the commencement event. Currently, she is attending The College of Saint Rose in Albany on full-tuition scholarships, including the Presidential and the Cultural Diversity Scholarships awarded by The College of Saint Rose. Britney is studying for a dual certification under the SEED (Special Education Elementary Development) Major, which is a fully integrated special education and elementary education curriculum.

The best aspect about attending the Career & Technical Center is the opportunity to explore a career, says Britney. “Even though I already knew what I wanted to be, there are so many people who think they know exactly what they want to do, go to college, and change their major when they find out that it’s not for them. Ulster BOCES is a really great way to find out if you want to do a specific career before you go to college, and then you don’t have to waste a whole semester, or even a whole year, at college and then change your major. You can know right away if it’s what you want to do.”

Britney has recommended the Early Childhood Education program to many of her friends who are still in high school, and several have since enrolled in the class. “The program is so impressive that one time when a student teacher from SUNY New Paltz came to observe our class while we were doing the lesson planning segment, she was amazed because she said she didn’t do lesson plans until her junior year of college and there we were doing them as juniors in high school. Now that’s a really good headstart!”

Britney’s future plans include pursuing her master’s degree and possibly returning to the Kingston area to teach. “When I was younger, I went to Robert Graves Elementary School. My younger sister still goes there, so I always go back and visit. Everyone’s so proud of me there and they say, “Oh, when you graduate, come back, we’d love to have you work here!” shares Britney.

“Ulster BOCES really does help get you ready for college because the curriculum fits everyone’s specific needs,” credits Britney. “The teachers are wonderful, the curriculum is really easy to follow, but at a level higher so that you’re working your way up to a college level, which is great. It’s such a wonderful program. I really loved it.”