November 2007
Contact: Kate Heidecker
(845) 255-1400 xt. 1333

Ulster BOCES Staff Recognized for Excellence in Education

When the annual Mid-Hudson School Study Council (MHSSC) Awards for Excellence in Education were announced this year, Ulster BOCES administrators were delighted to see not just one, but two of its staff members recognized. School nurse Christine Venditti and Early Childhood Education teacher Michelle Friedel were both honored for their outstanding abilities working with children.

Christine Venditti, a school nurse for the Ulster BOCES Center for Alternative Education in Port Ewen for the past 11 years, was commended for her expertise and performance in a variety of duties that go beyond her job description.

“Ms. Venditti brings a high level of compassion and understanding to the at-risk adolescent population she serves. She serves as a valuable resource in creating viable options to students who have not been successful in their home schools,” says Ulster BOCES District Superintendent Martin Ruglis.

Notes former School Principal Rosemary Mannino, “Nurse Venditti is able to make students feel special and comfort them when their pain is emotional, not just physical. Many students refer to her as Mom.” Venditti’s positive outlook, dedication, and empathy for her students have made her a standout in the workplace.

Michelle Friedel has been a Career & Technical Center educator at Ulster BOCES for 12 years. After working for three years as the coordinator of the Ulster BOCES Child Care Center, which serves infants, toddlers, and preschoolers, Friedel now serves as a high school teacher in the Early Childhood Education program, a position she has held for the past nine years. She serves as a wonderful role model for young people in her Early Childhood Education class because she personally exemplifies the intelligent, well-informed, and well-prepared attributes of an effective teacher.

By successfully weaving ELA (English language arts) and math into her curriculum by making insightful links between the early education curriculum and New York State Learning Standards, Friedel is a master at using the trade curriculum to capture students’ interest and teach them vital academic skills.

The evidence of Friedel’s success in the classroom is readily apparent. During the past two years, entering juniors who had skills below the 9th grade level in reading and math improved an average of three grade levels. Additionally, during the past five years, 100 percent of her graduates entered college or full-time employment.

Educators were recently recognized before hundreds of colleagues, family members, and friends at a banquet in their honor held at Anthony’s Pier 9 in New Windsor. Awards for Excellence in School Board Leadership and Support Staff were also given.

Based at SUNY New Paltz and partnered with the University’s School of Education, the Mid-Hudson School Study Council encompasses the entire Hudson Valley region. Its mission is to improve the education offered in the region’s school districts through the cooperative study of common educational problems, the diffusion of “Best Practice” strategies, and the active participation of all the shareholders of the educational process – from district administrators to the students they serve.