NYSACTE Secondary Fellowship Program
The NYSACTE Fellowship Program will be open to all career and technical education educators who want to improve their leadership skills while learning more about career and technical education in NYS. The program provides an opportunity for participants to learn from one another while exploring the various CTE delivery models within the state and becoming more involved in CTE professional organizations at the state level.
This program represents an opportunity for extended professional development and will allow NYSACTE affiliate organizations the opportunity to take a more active role in shaping future career and technical education leaders.
Purpose:
- To bring CTE educators together to develop their leadership skills and further their involvement in CTE professional organizations
- To provide CTE educators an opportunity to become familiar with the variety of content areas and delivery models in NYS in order to better understand the strengths and challenges of CTE in NYS
- Provide professional development opportunities in order to share and build best practices in CTE
- Support activities that increase leadership characteristics and provide leadership opportunities for career-technical educators by contributing to NYSACTE.
Fellows participate in monthly zoom meetings and complete a series of tasks/assignments known as the program of work throughout the fellowship year. The program of work will begin in October and will conclude in August each year.
The time commitment for the fellowship program is approximately 52 hours. This includes attending the monthly zoom meetings and completing the program of work. It does not include attending PD. CTLE hours can be awarded if needed.
NYSACTE Fellows receive a $300.00 stipend for participating in the program.
Ida Marra and Dr. Alison Matthews are currently serving as the co-coordinators of the NYSACTE Fellowship Program.
Applications are due on June 21, 2024. Applications will be reviewed by the Fellowship Coordinators, NYSACTE President and affiliate organization President. Applicants will primarily be selected based on the quality of their responses and the strength of their letter of recommendation. Applicants will be notified of their acceptance by June 30.
Click here to apply: NYSACTE Fellowship Program 2024
If you have questions about the fellowship program please email Dr. Alison Matthews at matthewsa@harborfieldscsd.org.
2024-25 Fellows
Chris Bernichon
Chris Bernichon is a dedicated Business and CTE teacher with a passion for equipping students with financial literacy, soft skills, and real-world knowledge they need to thrive in college and careers. Currently, Chris is developing an innovative financial literacy and soft skills curriculum. Prior to transitioning into education, Chris spent over a decade running a successful brokerage in insurance and finance, gaining firsthand experience in entrepreneurship and all aspects of business operations.
Alongside professional achievements, Chris, an Eagle Scout, has devoted over 20 years to volunteering with youth organizations and is currently an Assistant Cub Master in his son Joshua’s Cub Scout Pack. Chris believes in instilling the understanding that actions and how we make others feel often leave a deeper, more lasting impact than words alone. Chris brings a unique blend of business acumen and educational insight to inspire and empower the next generation of leaders.
Concetta Carocci
With nearly two decades as a CTE educator, Concetta Carocci is passionate about preparing students for career success. Holding a Master’s degree in Business & Marketing Education and multiple teaching certifications, she is currently pursuing a Certificate of Advanced Study in Educational Leadership. As CTE Department Leader at East Syracuse Minoa Central High School, Concetta developed a comprehensive Early Childhood Education curriculum, secured grants to support teacher preparation, and founded the National Technical Honor Society chapter. She also established the Take A Look At Teaching Club to inspire future educators. Committed to lifelong learning, she eagerly anticipates expanding her professional impact through the Fellowship Program.
David Donner
David Donner started off as a lawyer who decided to go back to school to become a teacher. He taught in NYC for 11 years before he decided to go into administration. Mr. Donner was the Building Principal at Windham-Ashland-Jewett for almost 7 years. He grew up in Elmira New York and when he saw the position become available for the Career and Technical Principal he applied and got the position. Mr. Donner will be starting his third year as CTE Principal at GST BOCES Bush Campus this fall.
Gina Farrell
Gina Farrell is an innovative business educator and dedicated professional at Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK High School, where she serves as a business teacher, Work-Based Learning (WBL) Coordinator, and Career and Technical Education (CTE) Coordinator. Ms. Farrell earned an MBA in Health Care Administration from CUNY Baruch/Mount Sinai School of Medicine. After a successful career in healthcare administration, Gina shifted to education to combine her expertise with her passion for teaching. Her diverse background enhances her approach to education, where she integrates real-world business practices with classroom learning. As the WBL Coordinator, Gina builds industry partnerships and creates experiential learning opportunities, while her role as CTE Coordinator involves developing comprehensive career pathways for students. Her dynamic approach and commitment to student success reflect her dedication to preparing students for successful careers through practical and real-world experiences.
Ms. Farrell has been an active board member of the Long Island Business Teachers’ Association for the past decade and was honored with the Outstanding Work-Based Learning Coordinator award by the NYS Career Readiness Educators Association in 2022.
She is looking forward to the opportunities and experiences offered by this fellowship to further enhance her involvement in career and technical education.
Matthew Fiasconaro
Matthew Fiasconaro is currently employed by the Syosset Central School District as a high school business education teacher, Work Based Learning Coordinator, and Director of the Syosset Professional Advisory Council which helps build relationships between local professionals and the school community.
The Fellowship Program will allow Mr. Fiasconaro to continue to grow the Syo+ Career PathwayProgram, providing amazing career opportunities for the students of Syosset High School. He hopes to share any knowledge gained and become a mentor to other CTE professionals in the Long Island Region. Mr. Fiasconaro is looking forward to learning more about other areas of CTE and positioning himself as a leader in the space. He hopes to one day soon become an administrator and oversee the CTE program of a school district on Long Island. Matthew holds a B.S. in Communications from the University at Albany, an MBA in Management from Dowling College, an M.A. in Education from Dowling College, a Work Based Learning Coordinator Extension Certificate from Buffalo State University and has completed a School Building Leader Certificate Program at Queens College.
Matthew is happily married with three children and enjoys coaching lacrosse and basketball for hischildren’s teams. In addition to teaching, Matthew is the co-owner of a successful sustainable food company, Brewer’s Foods, whose products are sold in stores nationwide.
Dr. Matt Gonzales
Dr. Matt Gonzales has been playing piano for as long as he can remember, and has been educating communities since 1999. He began his career in education as a music educator, earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Instrumental Music Education in 1999, a Masters in Instrumental Music Education in 2004 and a PhD in Educational Leadership in 2012. His dissertation focused on leadership in International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme (DP) and non-Diploma Programme schools.
In 2009, Matt became an administrator and IB Middle Years/Diploma Programme Coordinator. As an administrator, he has supervised Science and Social Studies teachers in grades 6-12. In 2013, Matt moved to New York, continuing his work as a school administrator. During his tenure as an administrator, Matt created and led professional development sessions on standards-based assessment, assessing for learning, project-based learning, differentiation, concept-based teaching, student data analysis, and using frameworks to discuss high-quality teaching and learning. During his time working in New York, Matt helped to start a school in Shanghai, China. He enjoys supporting school communities on their journeys towards student-centered agency-empowered instruction.
Scott Lieberman
Scott Lieberman is a dedicated Business Teacher who has made significant contributions to the Plainview Old Bethpage Central School District over the past 18 years. In his role, Mr. Lieberman has not only imparted valuable business knowledge to his students but has also taken on pivotal roles as a Work-Based Learning (WBL) Coordinator and a Career and Technical Education (CTE) Coordinator.
Throughout his tenure, Mr. Lieberman has recognized the critical importance of fostering open communication and collaboration with fellow CTE Coordinators across the state. He is excited about the opportunities this fellowship will provide to help further his commitment to enhancing educational practices and building strong networks in the field of career and technical education.
Iris Wiener
Iris Wiener is thrilled to be the new Work-Based Learning Coordinator at Oceanside School District. She comes to the program after seventeen years in education, both as an English teacher on Long Island and as the Work-Based Learning Coordinator at Long Island High School for the Arts. She earned a BA in Sociology at SUNY New Paltz, an MA in Secondary Education, English 7-12, at Stony Brook University, and an MS in Literacy Education, 5-12, at Queens College.
In her free time, Iris is an entertainment journalist and theater critic. Her portfolio contains a diverse collection of writing and interviews centered on theatre, music, books, film, and television. Her work has been featured in more than twenty publications, including Newsday, Playbill, TheaterMania, OK!, Encore Monthly, Weston Magazines, and Long Island Woman. Additionally, Iris has contributed red carpet interviews with actors such as Daniel Radcliffe, Ian McKellen, and Josh Groban to WOR710 News Talk Radio and has been interviewed for Bio Channel’s Biography. She has two years of experience in the field of casting, as she acted as Lead Researcher for CastingAbout, a division of Breakdown Services. She is a proud voting member of the Drama Desk and The Outer Critics Circle.
As a Work-Based Learning Coordinator, she was able to share her drive for career-based projects. Her artistic and creative abilities were put to good use as the director of school musicals and the editor of school yearbooks. She has hosted and moderated guest speaker events, curated internships on independent film sets, and designed work experiences in collaboration with Broadway productions such as & Juliet and Life of Pi. She designed and oversaw residencies in 3D animation, game design, theatre, dance, music, production management & scenic construction, visual arts, audio production, and film.
The NYSACTE Fellowship Program is sponsored by CTE Technical Assistance Center of NYS.
