Nassau BOCES and Barry Tech students find passion in learning valuable trades
The old saying college isn’t for everyone is no small joke. It’s true; sitting at a desk and putting pen to paper or having your nose in a book for hours at a time is not for everyone. But for those people who choose to opt out, many soon find passion in learning skills for their career at the one place that seems old fashioned: trade school.
“The word traditional has been redefined in trade schools within the past decade or so with the changing attributes to areas that we used to call the trades,” said Gene Silverman, who serves as the executive director of the department of regional schools and instructional programs at Nassau BOCES. “These attributes include new requirements of the workplace, technology, new material products and other systems of operation for anyone in these programs.”
In addition to being in charge of the whole program, Silverman’s laundry list of responsibilities extends to supervising principals and everyone in the regional schools and instructional programs, including Barry Tech. Silverman noted that career tech educational schools, or “CTE” schools, have transformed what and how they teach so students are ready to embark on their journey into the workforce.
“For our high school students, they still do their internships while they’re still in school. Whether it is in the engineering or auto technologies program, the entry-level expectations of skill sets are all aligned with what they will face when gainfully employed,” said Silverman, who noted that car dealerships are a good example to show the progression of trades. “Ask anybody, when you go to your car dealership and you walk into the services department, it is strikingly different from what it was; what was once dirty and oily is now full of mobile devices and digital technology.”
At Nassau BOCES and Barry Tech, the goal is for students to leave the school—whether it is through the high school or adult program—and step into a place of employment, ready and capable of all aspects of work. Many students also have the confidence and interest to further their education and get their associates or bachelor’s degree.
“If you’re not academic and you’re not interested in high school, we recommend that you try this,” said Silverman of a career tech program. “It’s really become ‘I love doing blank,’ and if students can do what they love and become completely engaged in learning that way, their whole educational experience changes.”
It used to be that trade schools were buildings that housed the kids who couldn’t handle academics or weren’t smart enough for college. What was once seen as a backup plan or a career option for those who weren’t good enough now comes with a waiting list of students itching to get into these exciting, hands-on programs.
“For the kids that know there is something they want to do but don’t want to wait until they are done with high school, that is why we’re here,” said Silverman. “They can come to a tech center engaged in different levels of activity and get involved with what they want to do. They’re passionate about it and they really get challenged to meet these new levels that are required by colleges and industry professionals.”
Silverman said that career tech schools began to take off about 12-15 years ago and although it is her opinion, she said that every student is truly excited to come to class every day.
“When kids advance their learning here and then go back to high school for the rest of the day, they are engaged and are performing at a higher level,” she said. “Their performance is better academically and acceptance to college is much higher, because they now come ready to work and are held more accountable and responsible for their studies.”
On the competitiveness of the program, Silverman said it is fairly high. The high school program had a waiting list, but it was eliminated in favor of giving students other options as a second choice.
“We want students to be able to come for the programs even if they are very full, so we try to maximize our facility. If there is a rise in enrollment, we see how we can reuse or repurpose a room,” she said.
Of the more popular programs at Barry Tech, Silverman noted that trade electricity is an exceptionally strong program for both teens and adults, as well as healthcare, construction and the service industry (engineering, auto mechanics, cosmetology, culinary, and informational technology or IT).
“Those programs are consistently very heavily enrolled and the need for good trades is so strong on Long Island, that’s what you keep hearing in politics and it’s true,” she said.
All of the high school programs have advanced college credit. For example, Silverman stated that the culinary students can receive up to 12 credits at the Culinary Institute of America. In fact, there are several colleges that validate work within trade schools by offering advanced credit and several employer partners that bring students on as interns or apprentices.
But don’t think that just because going to a career tech school, which happens to be very hands-on oriented, that students don’t have to study.
“Getting into an electrician’s union is a strong opportunity for everyone in that program, and getting your electrician’s license is an incredibly hard and long-term process,” said Silverman. “Even students who study cosmetology have to commit to 1,000 hours, so they come four nights a week from 6 to 10 p.m. for 15 months. Then they sit for an exam and if they pass, they become a licensed cosmetologist.”
For adults in the program, many enroll because they either want a career change or are looking to acquire a second job to increase their income and would like to learn a new set of skills.
“We’ve had adults who say that they always wanted to be an electrician but had to go on other paths in life, and they want to come back. Most adults have a day job and a family and they have to balance those responsibilities while coming to class at night,” said Silverman. “With adults, they’re not in the process of learning as students are in high school. But the persistence and the family support, that’s what makes graduation so wonderful, especially for the adults.”
This past year, Barry Tech saw a total of 1,500 students enrolled. A number of students are sent by the New York State Department of Labor, some are supported by their current companies or unions to increase their skills, and the rest are ready and willing to learn.
“In New York state and across the country, CTE schools are on a tremendous resurgence,” said Silverman. “It’s an important aspect for Long Island in terms of a talented workforce development to work successfully at jobs we need.”
