Bergen County Named "District of the Month" for September
September 24, 2007 -- NJCCVTS honored Bergen County Technical School District as the "District of the Month," for September in recognition of its innovative programs and leadership in redefining career and technical education throughout the state.
Bergen County Technical Schools Superintendent Robert Aloia was presented with the award by Council President Frank Gargiulo at the Council's September meeting, held at the school's Hackensack campus. "The programs at this campus and at Paramus and Teterboro are groundbreaking in the way they educate and empower the high school students of Bergen County," Gargiulo said. "This district is at the forefront when it comes to making high school relevant for all students."
The Council of County Vocational-Technical Schools is the statewide association of superintendents and board of education members of New Jersey's 21 county vocational-technical school districts. Member districts operate 60 schools throughout the state and educate about 84,000 students each year in high schools and adult programs.
"The Bergen County Technical School District is an educational model that prepares students to live, work and lead in a global community," Aloia said. "The three unique high schools and numerous postsecondary programs attract students from every corner of our county because our schools pride themselves on innovation and excellence!"
Students in the Bergen County Technical School District learn in classrooms and career-specific technical labs that mirror future academic and professional environments. The district enrolls approximately 2,300 secondary and 23,000 adult students in rigorous academic, technical and professional education on three campuses: Bergen County Academies in Hackensack, Bergen County Technical High School in Paramus and Bergen County Technical High School in Teterboro.
Students are drawn to the college-like atmosphere of the Bergen County Academies in Hackensack for an opportunity to pursue their passions in one of seven specialized programs: Academy for the Advancement of Science and Technology, Academy for Business and Finance (International Baccalaureate), Academy for Culinary Arts and Hotel Administration, Academy for Engineering and Design Technology, Academy for Medical Science Technology, Academy for Telecommunications and Computer Science, and Academy for Visual and Performing Arts. Facilities such as the Biotechnology Lab for Stem Cell Research give students the opportunity to obtain practical experience in emerging fields. In six months, a state-of-the-art nanotechnology lab will open where students will study matter on a molecular level.
Bergen County Technical High School in Paramus is a shared-time vocational and technical training facility, as well as a full-time public high school for students with special needs. The school provides students with a strong academic and technical foundation that prepares them to pursue either post-secondary education or entrance into the workforce upon graduation. Whether in a physics or automotive lab, students are immersed in applied learning experiences that utilize the latest technologies, equipment, and facilities that will define tomorrow's workplace. Career training programs include automotive collision repair; automotive technology; computer and business technology; cosmetology and skin care, culinary arts, baking and food service; electrical technology; general contracting; horticulture; information & telecommunications technology, A+ certification; landscaping and grounds maintenance; small animal care, small engine repair; and visual and graphic design. Students engage in collaborative interdisciplinary activities that foster interpersonal, communication and critical thinking skills.
Bergen County Technical High School in Teterboro offers a dynamic educational environment that combines college preparatory academics with technical and pre-professional courses. The unique balance between tradition, innovation, and change prepares students to pursue postsecondary education or begin careers consistent with their high school majors. Students may choose to major in one of the following programs: automotive design and engineering; business and finance; commercial art and graphic design; computer science; cosmetology and skin care; culinary and pastry arts; digital media arts; electrical technology; fashion art, design and merchandising; law and justice; and pre-engineering. A recent articulation agreement with Farleigh Dickinson University allows graduates of the law and justice program to enter the University's School of Criminal Justice as sophomores, fast-tracking their entry to the workforce. Bergen County Technical Schools also offer an array of postsecondary programs. These include full-time day training programs and part-time evening and apprenticeship courses through the Division of Adult and Continuing Education, training for emergency medical service and heavy rescue workers through the Emergency Medical Services Training Center, and career readiness and training through the Bergen Workforce Center.
Visit Bergen County Technical Schools on the web at http://www.bergen.org.