Staff at Airline Drive Academy and Maywood Academy set the tone for a productive school year as they welcomed new and returning students to their classrooms. The goal for the start of the school year is to ensure students feel grounded, supported and ready to learn.  

“Walking through our halls and visiting classrooms, I am reminded of why this work is so deeply sacred,” said Special Education Director Catie Magil. “The start of a new school year is a delicate blend of hope, nervous anticipation, and excitement. The first days are less about academic milestones and more about helping a child feel seen, safe, and understood in a world that can feel overwhelming.” 

Students who attend Airline Drive and Maywood academies have diverse needs and are referred to BOCES through their school district’s Committee on Special Education (CSE). The first few weeks of school are pivotal for helping students adjust to the changes a new school year brings.  Staff at the schools expressed high expectations for meeting students’ social, emotional and academic needs. 

John Drabik, a social worker at Maywood, said he is looking forward to discovering new ways to support students.

“I’m most excited to see my transiting students grow into themselves in different ways and become stronger, more independent versions of themselves.” he said. 

Dan Darpino, a special education teacher at Airline, is excited to see the progress his students make with their reading and comprehension skills. 

“I’m really looking forward to seeing if the Structured Literacy for Diverse Learners (SLDL) program we’re doing is going to put some of my non-readers into a better level of reading,” he said. 

SLDL is “our own unique hybrid program with the goal of being responsive to students with learning differences,” said Donna Lamkin, a Capital Region BOCES Special Education division training specialist and literacy coach.

Princetta Jordan, a teaching assistant at AIrline, is excited to see the progress her students make in the Pathways to Learning program, which serves sixth, seventh and eighth grade students. 

“I’m excited for students to learn, get acclimated and build relationships with each other,”  she said. “Some students are learning sooner than what I had expected. It’s good because they can start being open about healing, sharing and being able to trust.” 

Travis Kemmer, who teaches physical education at Airline, is looking forward to creating new memories with his students. 

“They always give new memories and new moments that keep me energized, ” he said.”  It never gets old, because the students keep it fun.”