Dr. Betty Rosa, Commissioner of Education and President of the University of the State of New York, accompanied by several colleagues, including Board of Regents member Dr. Roger Catania, visited BH-BL High school today to gain firsthand insight into the educational opportunities provided to BH-BL students.
The visit showcased the district’s commitment to cutting-edge learning environments and student success, with a particular focus on STEAM initiatives and advanced learning technologies.
The Commissioner’s itinerary began in a Distance Learning (DL) classroom, which demonstrated BH-BL’s innovative approach to education, allowing Dr. Rosa and others to interact with DL teacher Anna Watkins and Sports Marketing students, while simultaneously utilizing DL technology to virtually connect with other students taking the same course but doing so from the Berne-Knox-Westerlo School District. BH-BL currently offers more than 30 DL courses, serving students from numerous school districts both within and beyond the Capital Region.
Dr. Rosa and delegates also toured the high school’s recently modernized, multi-functional auditorium. There, they were treated to mini performances and demonstrations of the digital light show and backdrop/fly features of the auditorium that rival many professional and collegiate stages and studios. They also heard from Drama Club and Spartan Studio student members about their experiences performing and producing in the renovated facility.
The visit continued with a comprehensive tour of BH-BL High School’s relatively new state-of-the-art Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) wing, including the Metal Shop, Wood Shop, Fabrication Room, CAD Lab, Math/Computer Science rooms, the Digital Arts studio, and the 3D and 2D Art rooms as well as the robotics practice arena where students displayed and operated the MechaSpartan’s robot. There, Dr. Rosa and her team had the opportunity to observe students actively engaged in various hands-on learning experiences, including virtual welding, highlighting the district’s investment in these critical fields.
The visit concluded in the school’s Podcast Studio where sophomore Violet Schultz, an editor of Spartan News, the high school’s student newspaper, interviewed Dr. Rosa for an upcoming podcast and accompanying article, providing a unique student perspective on the Commissioner’s visit and educational leadership. (Listen to the brief Podcast by following this link.)
Dr. Rosa’s visit underscores the New York State Education Department’s interest in successful local educational models and provided an opportunity for district leaders and faculty to highlight their dedication to fostering a dynamic and forward-thinking learning environment for BH-BL students.