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Students showcase gifted-and-talented and BOCES CTE projects to Watertown board
Summary
Wiley Elementary gifted-and-talented students and BOCES CTE students presented projects and personal testimonials to the board, highlighting hands-on learning, robotics, industry certifications and career pathways; board members praised student work and thanked staff.
Students from Wiley Elementary's gifted-and-talented program and participants in Jefferson Lewis BOCES career-and-technical-education programs presented their work to the Watertown Board of Education, drawing praise from board members and administrators.
At Wiley, Ashley Stevens introduced a student-led presentation in which multiple fifth- and sixth-grade students described the G&T program as a "fun and safe space" for exploration and collaboration. Students listed projects including robotics, language learning, and creative projects; several singled out Stevens for leadership and support.
Lisa Blank, director of CTE programs for the district, and Jeff, director of career and technical education at Jefferson Lewis BOCES, described the CTE framework and regional partnerships that offer industry certifications and internships. Staff highlighted that CTE concentrators nationally have higher graduation rates and better engagement metrics, and local students shared testimonials: a student quoted in the meeting said their BOCES experience "cannot fail me in any direction I take," noting workforce certifications and internship pathways.
Students in cosmetology, culinary and health-care pathways described hands-on learning and real-world certifications (CPR, ServeSafe, OSHA), and several said the programs had clarified their postsecondary plans. Board members and administrators noted the regional reach of CTE, the district's role in providing these pathways, and the value of student voice in illustrating program outcomes.
The board thanked the students and staff and said the presentations would be available on the district website and in board materials.
