Empowering Educators: Highlights from the Sunrise Seminar

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Nearly 100 participants gathered for Erie 1 BOCES' third annual Sunrise Seminar, a vibrant professional development event for school leaders across Erie County. Kicking off the day, Dr. Michael Capuana, district superintendent/CEO of Erie 1 BOCES, welcomed everyone and set an enthusiastic tone. This was followed by an engaging inclusion activity led by Jessica Karches, who is the director of internal talent and leadership development at Erie 1 BOCES.

Kevin Hamill from SchoolFront shared valuable insights about the statewide school hiring landscape. This was succeeded by a dynamic panel discussion, moderated by Jon MacSwan, superintendent of Cleveland Hill School District, which delved into career pathways in education with contributions from a range of educators.

After a well-deserved break, attendees dove into a series of presentations that covered a variety of important topics, including new teacher academies, strategies to address substitute shortages, mentoring guides, and certification processes. A standout moment was the presentation by Jeffery Matteson, senior deputy commissioner for education policy at the New York State Education Department, who shed light on proposed certification changes.

The event, sponsored by SchoolFront, wrapped up with an optional tour of The Martin House, an educational and cultural jewel nestled in the heart of Buffalo. Notably, students from the Erie 1 BOCES Education Pathways Academy also joined in, adding a fresh perspective to the discussions.