Employees of the Year recognized at Orleans/Niagara BOCES

Press Release, Orleans/Niagara BOCES

The Orleans/Niagara BOCES recently named its Employees of the Year for the 2024-2025 school year.

Employees are nominated by their peers and a committee selects an awardee in each of these categories: Administrator, Clerical, Continuing Education, Custodial/Maintenance, Staff Specialist, Substitute, Teacher Aide and Teacher.

Rachel Ross is the Administrator of the Year.  Rachel has worked for Orleans/Niagara BOCES for one year and is the principal of the Godfrey Learning Center and the Orleans Learning Center.

“My favorite part of the job is the people,” she said. “I feel so lucky to work with such great students and staff every day.”

Ross said she was shocked when her name was announced at the opening day celebration. “It hit me emotionally. I think it is clear indication that I am on the right path and doing the right things. There is no better feedback to guide and affirm your practice than this. I am grateful for the feedback.”

Penny Aikin is the Clerical Person of the Year. Aikin has spent 39 years in Continuing Education, five years as a Keyboard Specialist and the last 34 as a Secretary. She is also a certified TABE (Test of Adult Basic Education) Test Administrator which allows her to test adult students part-time in the evenings at our Lockport Literacy Zone located at 50 Main Street.  Penny loves working with adult students.

“Our Literacy Program offers adults in the community assistance whether it is someone who needs their GED, someone needing to learn English or students seeking to obtain their citizenship,” she said. “The work that I do as a Data Manager has helped to insure we are the number one literacy program in New York State. I love my job as it enables me to work directly with an awesome literacy staff and to interact frequently with students all having different goals and needs.”

Aikin said it is an honor to be recognized for the work she does each and every day.

Erica Kopp is the Continuing Education Employee of the Year. She has worked at Orleans/Niagara BOCES for 19 years and says her favorite part of her job is teaching and helping people move forward in their lives.

“Many of our students come in carrying regret or embarrassment about not finishing high school,” she said. “It takes so much courage and determination to complete the program. Supporting them through that journey is incredibly meaningful. I was truly surprised and very appreciative of my colleagues choosing me! We have so many dedicated teachers and I honestly could not believe I was selected.”

Donald Duncanson is the Custodian/Maintenance Person of the Year. He has been working at BOCES for 4 1/2 years.

“My favorite part of my job is meeting new people every day and solving and fixing problems,” he said. “I feel very honored to have been chosen. I work with great people and it makes my job easy and enjoyable.”

Laird Burkett is the Staff Specialist of the Year. Laird has worked at BOCES as a Computer Technician for eight years. He said his favorite part of his job is helping people do their best work.

“I listen to teachers and staff, simplifying the technology behind the scenes, and support our team so solutions last,” Burkett said. “When a classroom runs smoother because we planned together, that’s the most rewarding part.”

He said winning this honor was very humbling. “Any success I’ve had comes from bringing people to the table, hearing their needs, and doing the follow-through together.”

Jennifer Jourdain is the Teacher of the Year. Jennifer works at the Niagara Academy and is on her 21st year at ONBOCES.

“What I love about my job is that the students I work with have typically had nothing but negative school experiences at their home district,” she said. “When they enter our alternative program, I love seeing these students gain confidence in their ability and find success for themselves in school.”

She said she felt honored when announced as the teacher of the year. “It was great to receive this award following a year of feeling respected and valued by the organization I work for.  I look forward to being part of the BOCES culture moving forward.”

Teresa Armstrong is the Teacher Aide of the Year. “I was shocked!” she said about the recognition. “It was a wonderful surprise to be recognized by my peers.”

Armstrong has been at Orleans/Niagara BOCES for 22 years and is at the Niagara Academy.  “My favorite part of my job is making connections with not only the students, but also my colleagues as we strive to make a difference in our students’ lives.”

Ron Jackson was named the Substitute of the Year. Ron worked as a welding teacher at the Orleans Career and Technical Education Center until his retirement in 2024. He filled in as a teacher in the welding program for part of the school year.

“I started on my birthday, February 18th in 2019,” he said. “I had to laugh, I’ve worked in power plants for 32 years and let’s just say, we didn’t get any snow days there! My first day teaching was a snow day. I hadn’t had a snow day since 1979!”

When asked what his favorite part of his job was, his answer was, “That’s hard to answer. It really wasn’t a job to me. It was the most rewarding opportunity I have ever had the pleasure of doing. So, I guess I would say it would be having the opportunity to pass on my life’s lessons to anyone who would listen.

“My passion has always been in welding, but my goal was to teach kids to be employable first and welding second. I do miss being part of something bigger than myself. It is the best job I have ever had. I am very honored to have received this and all I can say is from the heart, thank you for this wonderful opportunity to work with some of the most caring and dedicated people I’ve ever had the pleasure to work with.”