Erie 1 BOCES Monthly Spotlight: June 2023
Contributor: I.D.E.A Committee
Greetings,
We hope that you enjoy reading this month's E1B Staff Spotlight. The purpose of this activity is to get to know our colleagues better, create meaningful connections, build relationships, create a strong sense of community and celebrate our differences! Please consider participating by clicking and completing this short E1B Spotlight (submission form). Your spotlight will not be posted until you preview it and give final approval. Please note that the information that you choose to provide will be posted internally, featured in the Monthly Inside Story Newsletter and externally on our public webpage. Please use your discretion and only share information that you feel comfortable having shared publicly. If you have any questions please contact Nicole Kerner via email at nkerner@e1b.org
Warm Regards,
The I.D.E.A Culture & Climate Subcommittee
Hello, my name is Amy Henchey. I am a Literacy Specialist with the West Regional Partnership Center. I work with a team to help guide schools in developing or enhancing their current systems to better support students with disabilities and improve outcomes. I joined the West Regional Partnership six months ago, and I am excited to be a part of such a great team.
My family lived in Alexandria, Virginia (outside of DC) for nine years, before returning to Western New York in 2020. I am a mom of a third grader and first grader and have 1 fur-baby, a cat named Eve. When I am not working, I love camping with my family.
Those close to me would describe me as funny, a life-long learner and passionate about everything that I do.
Hi my name is Melanie Kitchen. As a Coordinator on the E-Team, I provide professional development in technology integration, instructional strategies and innovation. I am officially part of the Model Schools/CSLO team, but the work that I do often spans both technology and instructional practice. When I started working at BOCES in 2003, I told my husband I would stay for one year because I became a teacher to work with kids (not adults!) but 20 years later here I am! The best thing about my job is the autonomy to gauge teachers' needs and create service to support them and their students. I am most proud of coordinating the Consortium for Student Empowerment Through Innovation (CSETI) program and its culminating event, IMPACT Expo, where students across WNY share their independent projects at Buffalo State University.
I came back to live in Western New York after having spent my teenage years in Pittsburgh, PA and a year in Ontario with my Canadian husband, whom I met in graduate school. I have always had a dream to travel with my family in an RV and for four summers we did just that! We have traveled as far north as Newfoundland and as far west as Montana for 4-6 weeks at a time.
When I asked my friends what they would say about me, they said that I am, “the kind of person who will drop everything at a moment's notice and drive nine hours to help a friend in need."
Hello, my name is Alison Parzych. I’m the Specially Designed Instruction Specialist with the West Regional Partnership Center. Hands-down, the best parts of my position are my collaborative, go-getter, optimistic, foodie, lifelong learner colleagues. As of May 2023, I have over 11 years of service in western NY schools with BOCES, plus an additional 12 years of teaching and administration experience in Arizona.
I am a full transplant to WNY, having grown up in a small town 45 minutes south of Albany. After graduating from SUNY Geneseo, I moved to Arizona for 12 years. The most frequent question I receive after stating this information is, "Why did you move to Buffalo from such beautiful weather?" My reason lies solely with being closer to family.
I have two amazing children, who attend Lancaster High School. Jillian (17) and Alexander (16) are both very active in learning to drive, getting their first jobs and playing with either the Lancaster Marching Band or LHS Varsity Tennis Team. I am also a mom to four fur-babies. When our two-and-a-half year old Golden Retriever (Hunter) isn't herding our three rescue cats, he is sleeping, acting as my shadow, “helping” in the garden or lounging on the first step of our pool.
As some may know, I am an avid DIYer. I make equal trips to Home Depot and Lowe's for anything from crown molding and baseboards to plumbing and outdoor supplies. As postulated by my friends and colleagues, I am an excellent baker, classy, poised, professional, stylish, supportive, a creative marketer, passionate and an independent woman.
Hello, my name is Sarah Plewik. I work in Policy Services as a Clerk Typist. July marks 20 years that I’ve been working at BOCES. I enjoy my coworkers and have made many close, wonderful friends over the years.
After living in Kenmore all my life, my husband, daughter and I recently moved to the town of Pendleton. During our free time we enjoy swimming in our pool and catching fish in the pond behind our house.
Hi, my name is Rosemarie Proulx. I have been at Erie 1 BOCES for 16 years. I am a Training Coordinator in the Technology Department. I support the financial application, nVision and Timepiece. I feel proud to be a part of our team, and I truly enjoy my job.
I grew up in Lancaster. After my first husband joined the military, we were stationed at Misawa Japan. That's where I came out of my shell. Believe it or not, I used to be somewhat shy! I had both my children in Japan, and I regret to say they do NOT have dual citizenship. I also lived near Spokane, Washington, for six years. I moved back to Lancaster in 1993. There is truly no place like home! Currently, I live in West Seneca in a park-like setting. Every day we are visited by many deer. They walk right up to us.
I live a very blessed life. I have experienced some very interesting things over the years. The day after my daughter was born there was an earthquake that registered 8.3 on the Richter scale in Japan. I always told her that she rocked the world when she was born! I witnessed a plane crash very near to my home in Washington. We lived on a nuclear ready air force base. I even had a lightning strike in my yard a few years back. Maybe because of all of those close calls, I am so grateful for my blessings, big and small. I have scored major concert wins. I even won the number 2 prize on the Tim Hortons Roll up the Rim.
In comparison, I now live a nice quiet life with my wonderful husband and our two fur babies. Desi is a long hair Chihuahua and Katey a chihuahua/maltese mix. I am also very fortunate to have a beautiful granddaughter. I try to play golf everyday, that is on my nintendo switch, LOL. I like crafting, gardening and decorating. My dream is to go to Paris and see the Eiffel tower. I like going to historical sites and old cemeteries. The best places I have been so far are Charleston, Savannah and Quebec (my mini Paris).
People close to me would say I am outgoing and kind. I have met some very interesting people in my lifetime. If I hadn’t said “hello”, I would have missed out on knowing them. A fun fact about me is that in the past I have passed for actress Molly Shannon, must be the smile.