Join us for the first Stafford Report of the year! In this episode we visit with Construction Technology instructor, Jeff Fowler, and Public Safety instructor Deb Perkins. Learn a little more about what our Student Craft Corporation does, how our Public safety Program works down at the CSJ campus, and what our Spirit Committee does.
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Stafford celebrated the new school year with its first ever field day! Students from all 16 programs mingled and played frisbee, cornhole, bocce, and kick ball. It was a beautiful day! Check out some of the photos below:
By Bryanna Allen
RUTLAND HERALD STAFF WRITER | August 12,2015
There has been movement at Stafford Technical Center this summer.
Director Ted Guilmette has retired, and taking his place is Glenn Olson, who leaves behind the title of assistant director.
But that title isn’t empty: Melissa Connor will be the new assistant director of the technical center.
“It’s really exciting,” Connor said in her new office.
She worked as a business teacher at the River Valley Technical Center right after graduating from Castleton University, but after a short stint there moved to Martha’s Vineyard to be with her fiancé.
“It wasn’t like I was deep into my career at that point,” she said. “I was 25 and had the chance to move there to be with him, so I took it.”
She fell in love with the ocean, the smell of salt water and the movie “Jaws.”
And even though she moved to the island without a job lined up, she wasn’t unemployed for long.
Connor landed a job with a food distribution company — drastically different than her classroom experience — but said in the end, it ended up giving her more knowledge once she found her way back to the classroom.
“I found that working for a business, and knowing a business really helped me teach business when I got back into teaching,” she said.
She and her husband moved back to Vermont in 2003, where she got her old job back at River Valley.
“My husband lost his job on a Friday, and by Monday, I had seen the job opening and applied,” she said. “It was as if it was all meant to work out that way.”
There she worked for more than a decade, but said she was looking for a way to keep her interest in education sparked as well as get more involved in the administration side of things.
“I was worried that I would get complacent,” she said, “because I had been there for so long. This was a hard move to make, but I know it was the right one.”
Leaving behind the students, as well as the staff, some of whom she had known for years, was the most difficult part.
But now, Connor will have the chance to drive with her son, Zachary, each day to and from school as he is about to start his freshman year at Rutland High School.
“We’re close, so this will be a good way to spend time together,” she said.
And while she may see him from time to time around the campus, they are separated enough so they will not get on each other’s nerves or risk embarrassment.
What she is most looking forward to is getting to know the students, staff members and programs.
“I have a lot to learn, so I’m going to learn what I can about everything that goes on here,” she said.
And while she would love to perhaps contribute some of her own ideas to the school down the road, she said she is in no rush to make any drastic changes before understanding the lay of the land.
“Everyone here has been so helpful so far,” she said.
And one of those people helping her out is Olson, as he knows that job fairly well.
“I would’ve liked to have learned even more from Ted before taking his spot,” Olson said. “I have some huge shoes to fill.”
When Olson came over to Stafford from RHS, he said he knew next to nothing about the tech programs.
“I had a clean slate coming into that job,” he said. “And I’ve gotten to know so much about each of the programs.” Olson said he loves how at the tech center, the teachers and students get to know each other on a deeper level than in a traditional classroom because they spend so much time together.
“It’s a very valuable connection, between educator and student,” he said.
Olson said they have a great crew on board this year, and everyone is looking forward to the start of the new school year as “it’s almost here.”
We just updated our database and added a whole bunch of new alumni to our growing list. Don’t miss out. Join now, we’d love to keep you informed about alumni news and upcoming events!
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Check out this great video bidding our Director farewell as he begins a much well earned retirement. Ted, we miss you already. Video produced by our very talented Cosmetology I instructor Holly Savage.
Check out this great SkillsUSA video. Career Technical Education is STEM!
With so many opportunities out there why not explore your possibilities and pursue your passion? Experience a field of interest early and earn industry recognized credentials, college credit, and valuable experience in the field… all while you’re still in high school. Click here to learn more about Stafford’s programs. Schedule a visit today!
Rutland, Vermont – May 14, 2015 Stafford Technical Center recently inducted nine new student members into the National Technical Honor Society (NTHS). Inductees have achieved an overall grade of 88% or higher in each Stafford academic course, a grade of 90% or higher in their technical program, have one or more faculty and/or staff recommendation, and are actively involved in student government, civic, or social organizations.
NTHS members should be good, honest, responsible student-citizens who have made a personal commitment to excellence. Stafford congratulates our inductees and their continued efforts to exemplify the seven attributes of membership: skill, honesty, service, responsibility, scholarship, citizenship, and leadership.
2015 inductees:
Alycia Boudreau Delaney Chartier
Health Careers Human Services
Otter Valley 11 Poultney 12
Beccalyn Dugan Samantha Masse
Cosmetology 2 Cosmetology 1
Fair Haven 12 Fair Haven 11
Lydia May Kayla McMurry
Health Careers Auto Refinishing
West Rutland 11 Poultney 11
Erin Perry Logan Riesterer
Health Careers Auto Technology
RHS 12 Otter Valley 11
Lucas Turunen
Electrical / Plumbing
Poultney 11
South Burlington, Vermont – April 1 & 2, 2015 Vermont technical center students gathered to compete in the statewide SkillsUSA competition. These industry skills based competitions allow students the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned in their studies. Stafford Technical Center sent 57 students to compete in South Burlington and surrounding sites. Our students earned 3 bronze medals, 12 silver medals, and 16 gold medals. In addition to earning recognition for their accomplishments medal winners receive tools, prizes, and scholarships.
Gold medal winners will be traveling to Louisville, Kentucky for the national conference on June 22-26. This competition includes gold medal winners from the 50 states, Washington D.C., Guam, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands. Competitors will have the opportunity to meet other young people that have similar goals and interests and to see another part of our country.
Bronze medalists: Plumbing – Ben Lormon (RHS), Nurse Assisting – Erin Perry (RHS), and Collision Repair – Tre McCoy (RHS).
Silver medalists: Automotive Refinishing – Kayla McMurray (Poultney), Collision Repair – Kayla McMurray (Poultney), Cosmetology – Beccalyn Dugan (FH), Culinary Arts – Isabelle Hardina (WR), Customer Service – Shelbie Daigle (RHS), Extemporaneous Speaking – Ben Seamans (Poultney), Job Interview – Erin Perry (RHS), Job Skill Demo A (program centered) – Katlyn McCoy (RHS), Job Skill Demo Open – Kevin Richer (FH), Plumbing – Francis Grabowski (WR), and Team Works – Eli Gignoux (RHS) and Jeritt Patch (OV).
Gold medalists: Advertising Design – Austin Bach (Poultney), Automotive Refinishing – Jacob Scarborough (OV), Collision Repair – Jacob Scarborough (OV), Gorilla Communications (Team of 4) – Nick Hill (FH), Erin Perry (RHS), Kevin Richer (FH), Anthony Sherburne (WR), Photography – Miranda Platts (OV), Promotional Bulletin Board (Team of 3) – Alyssa Czarnekci (RHS), Isabella Hardina (WR), Shyanna Withington (WR), Related Technical Math – Lucas Turunen (Poultney), T-Shirt Design – Austin Bach (Poultney), Plumbing – Avery Billings (RHS), and Team Works – Sebastian Sfeir (FH) and Nick Hill (FH).
New Hampshire – April 9 & 10, 2015 The Stafford Technical Center chapter of Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) attended the New Hampshire State Spring Leadership Conference and attended workshops, networked with other FCCLA members, and competed in STAR Events (Students Taking Action with Recognition).
Gold medalists Delaney Chartier, Marie Whalen, and Emily Hansen will compete at the FCCLA National Leadership Conference in Washington, DC in July. Delaney will represent the state of Vermont by carrying the Vermont State Flag in the opening ceremony of the convention and will also serve as a voting delegate for the state.
The results of the competitions are as follows:
Bronze Medals: Chapter Service Project – Marissa Chisamore-Sutphin (RHS) and Avery Mullan (PrHS), National Programs in Action – FACTS – Families Acting for Community Traffic Safety – Kassaundra Aines (RHS), Miikaila Godette (MR) and Nichole Simonds (MR), Chapter in Review Portfolio – Kika Frye-Johnson (OV), Patience Ganes (FH) and Brandi Goyette (FH), and Job Interview – Sara Weinle (MR).
Silver Medals: Focus on Children -Special Needs Awareness – Kelsey Baptie (PoHS) and Danielle Bethel (RHS) – Focus on Children, and Career Investigation – Ashley Atwood (MR).
Gold Medals: Illustrated Talk – Child Abuse Awareness – Delaney Chartier (PoHS) and Marie Whalen (MR), and Early Childhood Education – Emily Hansen (MR)
Pictured: Front (kneeling) – Patience Ganes(OV), Kassaundra Aines(RHS) Middle Row – Kelsey Baptie(PoHS), Danielle Bethel(RHS), Nichole Simonds(MR), Brandi Goyette(FH), Mikaila Godette(MR), Emily Hansen (MR) Back Row – Sara Weinle(MR), Ashley Atwood(MR), Marissa Chisamore-Sutphin(RHS), Avery Mullan(PrHS), Delaney Chartier(PoHS), Marie Whalen(MR), Kika
Frye-Johnson(OV)
Stafford Technical Center would like to invite home study families to visit and tour the center on Friday, April 24th from 10:00am – 12:00pm. Join us on a guided tour and learn about all 15 of our day programs. Stafford programs incorporate numerous industry recognized credentials and college credits. New highlights this year include Video Communications and the launch of STCN, Stafford’s student run streaming news channel, and our completed STEM Academy facility. Students of all ages are welcome. Please feel free to forward this to any other interested families. Summer camp information for middle school aged participants will be available. Light refreshments will be served.
Please contact [email protected] for more information or to RSVP.