Erie 1 BOCES Monthly Spotlight: May 2023
Contributor: The 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 get 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 & only share information that you feel comfortable having shared publicly. Any questions please contact Nicole Kerner, nkerner@e1b.org.
Warm Regards,
The I.D.E.A Committee
Hello my name is Elizabeth Feldmann. I am in the CIS Warehouse. The most underrated crew at BOCES. I am a Sr. Account Clerk Typist. I order consumables for 100+ school districts. I have been an employee here at Erie 1 BOCES for 15+ years.
My family is from Brooklyn NY. I was born and raised in Cheektowaga, now living in West Seneca. I love sports and I'm an animal lover! My first husband passed away in 2010, then I re-married in 2015. We have a blended family of 5 children ( all adults now ) and only 2 of them have kids. So far we have 5 grandkids and hoping for more! No pressure on our other 3 kids…lol!
According to my co-workers, friends and family, I am “a little firecracker”. They describe me as loyal, hard working, much too honest most of the time, big heart with a big mouth, loving and funny. The un-official BOCES moral officer. I believe that Laughter is the best medicine!
Hello my name is Barbara Morlock, most people call me Barbie, Barbara Jean or Barb. I work in the CIS warehouse area, and I am a principal stores clerk. I have many duties but mostly keeping our inventory track 4000 System, up and running; which is also known as RAMI. I maintain the inventory for all of our school districts. I was hired in 2003 as a temp because they were not sure the warehouse would take off. Over a year later I was hired as a laborer for the warehouse. At that time we were in Lancaster and did not have a lot of the necessary equipment for unloading semi’s back then. We would unload one piece at a time, Back in those days they were heavier and bigger computers. My sister was the person who gave my recommendation to hire. The best part of my employment with BOCES is all the people that I have met and worked with during the 30 years that I have been here. Technically 29 years, as the first year I was a temp.
I was born and raised in South Buffalo. I love to camp with my family. I have a Husband and daughter. I have a huge extended family that is from the Adirondacks, which is my best friend's family, she is one of 17. Besides camping my happy place would be my cabin out near Ellicottville. My greatest joy is my 5-month-old grandson Camden.
My family and close friends would describe me as loyal and easy to get along with. I know they definitely would NOT describe me as quiet!
Hello my name is Terence (Terry) Ruh. I have been an employee of Erie 1 BOCES for 25 years, give or take a couple Army Deployments. My current role is a Special Education, Principal & Chief Cheerleader. Most people have a good idea about the traditional role of a principal, but my greatest focus is community building. I believe the key to a successful school is to have a supportive environment for students, staff and faculty alike. The best part of my job is being part of the Northtowns Community. I draw my energy from the positivity of others and I do my best to redistribute kindness and community pride. If you would have told me ten years ago that I would be the Principal of a K-8 School, I wouldn't have believed you. Yet here I am, and I couldn't be happier or prouder. I can thank Patrick Canfield for steering me towards Northtowns and I thank my NTA Team for their dedication and talents. Northtowns is a school with extraordinary faculty and staff in an environment that prioritizes community building. We help our students feel safe so they can open themselves to learning and growing. Being the Principal of Northtowns has been very rewarding and a true privilege.
I was born in Buffalo and raised in WNY. I have traveled to many far away places during my time in the service, but WNY will always be home. I am married to my lovely wife Rose, who is a ECE Teacher at Harkness; and together we have four adult children.
I love to cook, travel and sit around a campfire to unwind. A few fun facts that some may not know about me are that, I am retired from the US Army Reserves and served in Desert Storm, Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. I have been known to tell a joke or two. My hobbies are skydiving, school bus racing, mountain climbing, snake charming, base jumping, cave diving and telling tall tales. I am a lifelong fan of the Sabres and Bills. Go Bills! How would my close friends and family describe me? I hope they would describe me as a good man.