Seaway Career & Technical Education Center

03/15/2026

Staff from our tech centers spent the day learning, collaborating, and strengthening their skills during our CTE Professional Development Day. Staff participated in a variety of sessions focused on improving instructional practices and supporting student success. The day began with program collaboration and was followed by professional learning sessions including:

-Teacher Voice & Student Engagement Strategies- Mr. Sweeney
-Assessment in CTE Classrooms led by Mrs. Sheffield, Director of Career & Technical Education
-Skills for Success- Ms. Ruberti
-New Teacher Coaching- Mrs. Rotach & Mrs. Garrabrant
-Work Readiness & JobReady 360- Ms. Christian & Ms. Evans

Teaching assistants also had the opportunity to participate in various safety trainings such as:

-American Heart Association Basic Life Support (BLS)- Mr. Prashaw & Ms. Kerr
-Stop the Bleed
-Seizure First Aid Training

Professional development days like this allow our team to collaborate, share best practices, and continue building the skills needed to prepare students for college, careers, and the workforce.

03/08/2026

🔧 Seaway Tech Automotive Seniors Earn Snap-On Certification

Congratulations to our seniors our Automotive Technology program who recently earned their Snap-On 504F Meter Certification!

This certification demonstrates students’ ability to properly use a digital multimeter to test and diagnose electrical systems in modern vehicles. Students learn how to measure voltage, resistance, and current, as well as how to troubleshoot common electrical issues found in today’s increasingly technology-driven automobiles.

Electrical diagnostics are a critical skill in the automotive industry. With vehicles relying heavily on sensors, computers, and complex wiring systems, technicians must be able to accurately test components and interpret readings to identify problems quickly and safely. Earning the Snap-On 504F certification shows these students are building the industry-recognized skills needed to succeed in the field.

👏 Great work to our Automotive Technology seniors and Mr. Ells and Mr. Denny for continuing to build the technical knowledge and hands-on skills that prepare students for careers in the automotive industry!

03/06/2026

🌟 Seaway Tech Student Featured as 7News Career-Tech All-Star! 🌟

Congratulations to Makayla Collins, a senior from St. Lawrence Central School District, who attends our Culinary Arts Program. Makayla was recently recognized as a 7News Career-Tech All-Star!

Each week, WWNY-TV highlights outstanding career and technical education students from across the North Country who are preparing for their future careers through hands-on learning and skill development. Makayla was selected for her dedication, talent, and hard work in the culinary field.

We are proud of Makayla and the passion she brings to the kitchen each day at Seaway Tech!

🎥 Watch her feature here:

This week’s 7News Career-Tech All-Star is Makayla Collins.

03/05/2026

Congratulations to Lauren Jenson, a senior in our cosmetology program, who was recently recognized as a 7News Career-Tech All-Star!

This weekly segment highlights outstanding students in career and technical education programs across the North Country who are building skills and preparing for successful careers. Lauren’s dedication, hard work, and commitment to her program earned her this special recognition.

We are incredibly proud of Lauren and the great work she is doing representing Seaway Career & Technical Education Center.

🎥 Watch Lauren’s feature here:
https://www.wwnytv.com/2026/02/11/career-tech-all-star-lauren-jenson/

Great job, Lauren! Keep up the amazing work! 👏

This week’s Career-Tech All-Star is Lauren Jenson.

03/04/2026

Students in Mr. Ostroski's culinary arts program traveled to the Culinary Institute of America to compete in the NYSRA ProStart Invitational Individual Burger Battle. The NYSRA ProStart Invitational is a statewide competition where high school students showcase their culinary skills.

Seaway Tech is proud to share that our students swept the competition bringing home 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place!

🥇 1st Place – Sofie McDermott (Brasher)
Sweet Heat Burger – Homemade BBQ sauce, crispy bacon, spicy caramelized onions, served with a side of mac and cheese.

🥈 2nd Place – Addison Robert-Bogart (Canton)
Jalapeño Popper Burger – Cut in half and served face down in a creamy jalapeño cheese sauce with roasted garlic broccolini.

🥉 3rd Place – Bella Slate (Norwood-Norfolk)
Alfredo Pinwheel Burger – Burger mixture layered on bacon, rolled, pan-fried, and topped with a rich parmesan Alfredo sauce.

Congratulations to our winners and all who competed!

Sofie McDermott – Brasher
Addison Robert-Bogart – Canton
Bella Slate – Norwood-Norfolk
Sophia Leroux – Potsdam
Madison Young – Massena
Aydria Hamilton – Massena
Niccoli Butcher – Parishville-Hopkinton
Makayla Collins – Brasher

03/04/2026

Seaway Tech is proud to announce Colby Griffith as the February 2026 recipient of the Rev. William R. & Crystal E. Cuthbert Vocational Excellence Award, sponsored by Brookfield Renewable US.

Colby is a student in our Automotive Technology Program, where students gain hands-on experience in an industry-standard lab while learning essential automotive repair skills and earning industry certifications and college credits.

This spring, Colby will participate in a work-based learning experience at a local automotive facility and plans to pursue a career in the automotive industry after graduation.

Instructor Mr. David Denny shares, “Colby is a joy to have in class. He is respectful, hardworking, and excels in the hands-on aspects of the program. He will make a great employee in the automotive field.”

Congratulations, Colby! 🚗🔧

03/02/2026

🎉🔧 Congratulations to Our HVAC/R Seniors! 🔧🎉

We are incredibly proud to announce that all of our HVAC/R seniors have earned their EPA 608 Technician Certification! The EPA stands for the United States Environmental Protection Agency. This federal agency is responsible for protecting human health and the environment. Because refrigerants used in heating and cooling systems can impact the environment if not handled properly, the EPA requires technicians to be certified before they can legally work with them.

The EPA 608 Technician Certification is a nationally recognized credential that demonstrates a technician understands:
✔️ Safe handling of refrigerants
✔️ Environmental regulations and compliance
✔️ Proper service procedures for HVAC/R systems
✔️ Prevention of harmful refrigerant releases

Earning this certification means our students are qualified to work on air conditioning and refrigeration systems and are one step closer to successful careers in the HVAC/R industry. This credential gives them a strong advantage as they enter the workforce or continue their training.

We are so proud of their hard work, dedication, and commitment to excellence. Way to go, seniors! 👏🔥

02/27/2026

January Student of the Month Theme: Perseverance

Our juniors recognized this month have demonstrated determination, resilience, and a strong commitment to their technical programs each day. Congratulations to our January junior students of the month:

Karson Addison – Auto Tech (Denny)
Kyle Hebert – Auto Tech (Ells)
Katilyn Holbrook – Building Trades
Ryan Vile – Computer & Information Science
Montana Nezezon – Cosmetology
Dawson Clark – Criminal Justice
Nevaeh Gardner – Culinary Arts
Zayden Chase – Digital Media Design
Corban Flynn – Electrical Technologies
Kali Fournier – Health Careers (Carkner)
Jaden Upton- HealthCareers (Hill)
Audreyann Sweet – HVAC/R
Zoey Fink – Metalworking Technology
Danny Laferriere – Natural Resource Management
Isabelle Rochefort- New Visions-Medical Careers Senior
Kandice Patterson – Professions in Education

These students continue to push through challenges, stay focused on their goals, and show daily growth in their skills and professionalism. We are proud of the example they set and the perseverance they demonstrate in their CTE journey!

02/27/2026

Seaway Tech is pleased to announce January's senior students of the month. January's theme was perseverance, pereserverance means persistence in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success. Congratulations to the following students:

Cheyenne Love – Auto Tech (Denny)
Wyatt Donalis – Auto Tech (Ells)
Noah LaMora – Building Trades
Owen Baker – Computer & Information Science
Amelia Kent – Cosmetology
Kevin Woodcock – Criminal Justice
Ace Steenberg – Culinary Arts
Skyler Schoettlin – Digital Media Design
Hayden Green – Electrical Technologies
Allison Paquette – Health Careers (Carkner)
Mya Sevey – HVAC/R
James Trombley – Metalworking Technology
Ryan Charlebois – Natural Resource Management
Kallie Hammond – Professions in Education

These students have demonstrated what it means to stay focused, push through challenges, and remain dedicated to their career pathways. We are proud of your hard work and the example you set for others!

02/26/2026

🐾Seaway Tech is excited to announce that beginning in the 2026–2027 school year, we are launching a brand-new Animal Science Program! This program will immerse students in hands-on learning and real-world experiences as they explore curriculum topics such as:

🐶 Handling & Restraint
🗣️ Customer Service in animal care settings
🩺 Physical Exams
🚑 First Aid
🦴 Anatomy & Physiology
💉 Diseases & Vaccinations
✂️ Grooming
🐾 Careers in the Animal Science Industry

Students will gain the foundational skills and knowledge needed for a wide range of careers in veterinary services, animal care, grooming, and beyond. This program is designed to prepare students for both post-secondary education and entry-level employment in the growing animal science field. We are excited to expand opportunities for our students and can’t wait to welcome our first cohort in 2026–2027!

Students from our compenent school districts recently visited to learn more about our upcoming animal science program.

02/09/2026

February is Career & Technical Education (CTE) Month 🛠️🪚🚜🩺✂️🥧🦺

Across New York State and right here in St. Lawrence County, CTE is transforming education by connecting learning to real careers. Our CTE programs give students hands-on experience, industry-recognized skills, and clear pathways to college, careers, and life.

This CTE Month, we're proud to celebrate our students, educators, and industry partners who make career-connected learning possible and who are shaping the future of St. Lawrence County, one skilled graduate at a time! Seaway Career & Technical Education Center Northwest Career & Technical Education Center Southwest Career & Technical Education Center

To learn more, visit: https://www.sllboces.org/career-technical-education/

02/06/2026

Seaway recently welcomed visiting students from our component school districts to dive into the worlds of healthcare and technology to decide on a future career pathway.

Here’s a look at what they got into:

🩸 New Visions Medical: Real-World First Aid
Our visitors jumped straight into the action with a hands-on lab activity! Students were assigned an external bleeding scenario, where they had to:

Design a realistic wound (things got a little messy—in the best way!). Then determine first aid techniques to control external bleeding- don't worry they made and used fake blood!

🖥️ Computer & Information Sciences: Coding the Future
Over in the C&IS program- located on SUNY Canton's campus, students explored the massive potential of the tech industry. The visit included:

A deep dive into the curriculum and high-demand career paths in the field, a tour of SUNY Canton's specialized research lab, and a collaborative group project led by our talented seniors!

Seeing our seniors mentor prospective students was a highlight of the day! We loved showing these students what their future could look like! A huge thank you to our component districts for visiting.