Training Sessions Offer Professional Learning & Growth Opportunities

Dutchess BOCES’ Human Resources Network Mini Series began this September, giving employees pathways for professional learning and providing resources to support their collective talent and help them grow. There are also two external-facing consortiums for BOCES’ component districts to learn about the Educators’ Employee Assistance Group (EAP) and Regional Certification Office.

Collaborative and transparent trainings are being offered for Dutchess BOCES administrators, as well as sessions geared toward teacher aides and teaching assistants, whom Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources Dr. Norah Merritt said have requested them.

“We also provide improvement on those skills so their interactions with students are improved,” Merritt said of the educator-centric trainings. “The goal is to benchmark their learning so we have a baseline for everyone who has those jobs with the basic skills.”

Merritt facilitated the trainings “Teaching Assistant 101,” and “Teacher Aide 101,” the latter co-led by Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services Denise Dzikowski, and visited other trainings that were well attended and received. “We get to showcase our space and expertise and improve the overall understanding of role-specific details and tasks,” Merritt said. “We want to have people engaged … I hope that it grows.”

Coordinator of Health Occupations Joanne Williams held a Sept. 22 training showing participants how to perform CPR on adults, children and infants using dummies and how to use automated external defibrillators (AED). She noted that CPR massages the heart to stimulate it back to a regular rhythm and that doing something is better than nothing.

“Permanent brain damage occurs after about four minutes, that’s why time is of the essence,” Williams said. “It can happen anywhere, with any of our students … just really be aware of your students.”

Chef Instructor Amanda Scoca found the training informative as she knows better what to do in an emergency.

“As teachers, we should be aware if our students are either choking or having cardiac arrest,” Scoca said.

If you’re interested in participating in any of the trainings listed below, please RSVP to Renee Gremillot at renee.gremillot@dcboces.org or 845-486-4800 x2271. Be sure to check the October “News to Use” for more information regarding trainings and other important news from Human Resources.

Administrators’ Mini Series sessions (3-4 p.m. in Conference Center, Room B-3)

Administrators’ Expectations for Professionalism: Nov. 14
Recruitment Guidelines: Jan. 30, 2026
Contracts: Feb. 27, 2026
Progressive Discipline: March 27, 2026
Coaching: April 24, 2026

EAP Consortium: ( 2:30-3:30 p.m. in Conference Center, Room B-3)

Increasing EAP Engagement for Higher Utilization: Nov. 12.
EAP Tools for Leaders: Feb. 11, 2026.
Supporting Employees Who are Struggling: May 13, 2026.

Regional Certification Office Informational Meetings: (1:30-3 p.m.)

Dec. 12 in Conference Center, Room A2
March 13, 2026, in Conference Center, Room B1-B3
June 12, 2026, in Conference Center, Room B1-B3

Safety Trainings

Opioid Overdose Prevention: Oct. 27 from 2:30 to 3:15 p.m. in Conference Center, Room B-1.
S.R.P SHELL: Nov. 18 from 2:30 to 3:15 p.m. in Conference Center, Room B-1.
Agency-wide Safety Team Meetings: Dec. 9, March 10, 2026, and June 9, 2026, from 3:15 to 4 p.m. in the Administrative Board Room (Contact Norah Merritt if interested in attending).
Behavior Threat Assessment Team from 2:30 to 3:15 p.m. on Dec. 15 in Conference Center, Room B-3.
Cybersecurity Refresher from 2:30 to 3:15 p.m. on March 9, 2026, in Conference Center, Room B-1.

Teacher Aide Trainings: ( 2:30-3:15 p.m.)

Lifting & Toileting: Oct. 28 in Conference Center, Room A2.
De-Escalation: Nov. 18 in Conference Center, Room B2.
FAPE (Free Appropriate Public Education): Feb. 24, 2026, in Conference Center, Room B1.

Teaching Assistant Trainings: (2:30-3:15 p.m.)