The Pennsauken Campus of Camden County Technical Schools  was selected as one of the best public high schools in the country and was awarded a bronze medal based on a report published December 4 by U.S. News and World Report. The publication worked in collaboration with School Evaluation Services, a K-12 education and data research company. School Evaluation Services analyzed 18,790 public high schools in 40 states using data from the 2005-2006 school year and then placed the top performers into categories.

According to School Evaluation Services, a three-step process was used to rank the schools. The first two steps were designed to analyze state proficiency standards to ensure that all students were well served by the school’s educational program. Demographic index adjustments were applied to the first two steps. The third step of the process assessed the degree to which schools prepared students for post-secondary education.

Gold and silver medals were awarded to the top 505 schools in the nation that met the three step criteria. An additional 1,086 high schools that met the first two steps were awarded a bronze medal. CCTS PC, which annually educates a diverse student body of 750 students, earned a bronze medal.
“This recognition comes after much sustained hard, dedicated, focused work on the part of students and staff,” said Gary G. Bennett, Ed.D., superintendent of CCTS. “It is an independent acknowledgement of the quality of teaching and learning, for all students, that takes place at CCTS.”

CCTS PC provides a comprehensive high school education. In addition to their academic classes, students are offered career training in one of the following areas: allied health, automotive technology, business, carpentry, culinary arts, computer aided drafting, computer networking/electronic communications, electric, floriculture, landscaping, printing/graphic arts, and welding. Approximately 80 percent of graduates pursue post- secondary education.

For more information about Best High Schools, log onto www.usnews.com. For more information about Camden County Technical Schools, log onto www.ccts.info.

Gary G. Bennett, Sr., Ed.D. superintendent of Camden County Technical Schools (CCTS) announced his plans to retire January 1, 2008. CCTS has campuses in Gloucester Township and Pennsauken and trains more than 3,000 high school and adult students annually.

      Dr. Gary G. Bennett, Sr., began his career in 1969 as a special education and high school business teacher with the Camden City School District and was subsequently appointed assistant school board secretary for personnel records and finance.

     In 1982, he joined the staff of Camden County Technical Schools as business administrator/school board secretary and became assistant superintendent for business/board secretary in 1986. He served in that post until he was named Superintendent of Schools in 2002.

     His educational background includes a Doctorate of Education from Nova Southeastern University, a Master’s of Arts degree in Educational Administration from Glassboro State College (Rowan University), and a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Education from Virginia State College, Norfolk Division (Norfolk State University).

     Dr. Bennett served in the United States Army in active and reserve capacities. He served as a Captain in the United States Army Reserves; First Lieutenant, Listening Post Commander, Republic of Korea; and Second Lieutenant, Advanced Infantry Training Officer, Fort Polk, Louisiana.

     Dr. Bennett is a member of the New Jersey Association of School Business Officials and is a past recipient of its Distinguished Service Award and Scholarship. He is a member of the National and State School Boards Associations and the National and State Associations of School Administrators.

     Dr. Bennett has served on several County School Business Administrator Selection Committees, the Commissioner’s Panel on Secondary Vocational Education in New Jersey, and as an External Review Team member for the New Jersey Department of Education. He currently serves as treasurer for the New Jersey Council of County Vocational-Technical Schools and as a twenty-year member of the Voorhees Township Board of Education.

     Dr. Bennett and his wife, Lynnca, live in Voorhees and are the proud parents of Gary, Jr. (daughter-in-law Leah) and Geoffrey.
 

     Dr. Monillas currently serves as superintendent of the Bordentown Regional School District and has also served as a superintendent, assistant superintendent, principal and curriculum supervisor in rural, suburban and urban school districts. Dr. Monillas is certified as an English and German K-12 teacher, Elementary Education teacher; School Business Administrator, Supervisor, Principal, and School Administrator and has taught at the elementary, secondary and college levels.

     He served as the Cape May County Superintendent of Schools and as interim Camden County Superintendent of Schools. He also served as a member of the Board of Education at Camden County and Cape May County Technical Schools and the Cape May County Special Services School District. Additionally, Dr. Monillas served as a member of the Board of Trustees at Camden County and Atlantic Cape Community Colleges. He received Leadership Citations from Governors Florio, McGreevey and Cody and has been recognized by the New Jersey State Assembly and Senate. In May 2006, he was honored by the Camden County Freeholders.

     In 2002, he was appointed Assistant Commissioner of Education for the State of New Jersey and served in that post until 2006. His responsibilities, in part, included supervising 11 county superintendent offices as well as overseeing the certification process, professional development, special education, transportation and district monitoring.

     Born and raised in Philadelphia, he is a graduate of La Salle University with a bachelor’s degree in Philosophy and German, and a master’s degree in Religious Education. He also studied for an MBA from LaSalle University. In 1993, he earned a doctorate in Educational Leadership from Nova University. He did post doctoral work at Rutgers University and at the University of Tokyo.

     Dr. Monillas is active in the community currently serving on the Foundation Board of the Atlantic Cape Community College, and enjoyed serving on the Education Committee for the American Lung Association; United Fund of Delaware Advisory Council; the Educational Institute Advisory Council at Rowan University, and the Port Norris Extension at Cumberland County College.

     He and his wife, Mardie, reside in Cape May and have two grown children. His wife is a Reading teacher, his daughter is a Chemistry and Physics teacher, and his son is pursuing his Ph.D. in Chemistry.
 

Each year, the members of the Alumni Association solicit nominations for the annual alumnus/alumna of the year award. The person selected must be of high moral character, successful in the career or a related career for which he/she received training at CCTS, be involved in his/her community and be supportive or give back to the educational system

Elwell graduated from the Heating/Air Conditioning program at the Pennsauken Campus in 1969. After graduation, he served six years in the US Air Force reserves while working as a union boilermaker, and then served as a Construction Superintendent/Project Manager for 25 years in the Power Plant and Refinery Industries.

Seeing the importance of job safety, Elwell began thinking about a new career in OSHA Safety Training and medical testing. In 1996, he and his friend Edward Eckert, also a CCTS graduate, and Karen Kelly, a close friend of the family with a medical background, founded American Medical Compliance Testing, and later due to changes in the drug testing industry, founded America Medical Saliva Testing Inc. (AMSTI).

AMSTI has grown dramatically and is now working exclusively with a group of scientist at the University of Arkansas/Hyphenated Solutions Laboratory with advanced technology and procedures and has realized the importance of testing children for lead and mercury poisoning. They are actively involved with a None - Profit organization he co-founded seeking long term health care for the children exposed to mercury poisoning in a southern New Jersey town. “Lead and mercury poisoning is a major cause of learning disabilities and health problems in children today,” he added.

Elwell has served as a guest speaker in schools throughout the state and region. He and his wife and have three daughters. In his spare time, he enjoys fishing, golfing and relaxing with the family.
 

  CCTS Announces Teachers of the Year 2007
 

Congratulations to our 2007 Teachers of the Year. Pictured left to right are: Thomas Haas Pennsauken Campus,
Harry Reeb, Adult Division,
Ed Fitzpatrick  Gloucester Township Campus High School Division,
Karen DiGiacobbe, Special Needs Division.
 

    Research proves that high-skill training improves a student’s chance of participating as a productive member in our country’s rapidly evolving workplace. CCTS offers its students several School-to-Careers programs such as Tech Prep, earning college credits while still in high school; cooperative education and internships. These activities are coordinated by Siobhan Kelly, Ed.D., the district’s Job Placement Coordinator.“CCTS enrolls about 3,000 students each year,” said Kelly. “Businesses are needed to partner with us to ensure the students succeed. Whether a business person can spare an hour a year as a guest speaker, an hour or two a week as a mentor, or several hours a day as an employer, our students would benefit from the experience. It’s not easy deciding which career path to take, and when business persons volunteer their time to explain what they do, students can make an informed decision about their future.”

     At CCTS, students focus their educational efforts on the preparation needed to gain the skills needed for their career choices. Business partners play a significant role by providing the practical experiences needed so that students may acquire, practice and demonstrate their academic and occupational skills. Some of the benefits of being a business partner are: obtaining an expanded pool of trained workers; reducing new employee training costs; controlling turnover of entry-level employees by acquainting potential full-time workers with all facets of the business of industry; having input on curriculum development to meet industry standards and requirements, and improving the overall quality of life and work ethics/skills in the local community.

     An additional benefit of joining the School-to-Careers partnership is the invitation to participate in the Academic-Business-Connections (ABC) luncheons. The luncheons are held three times a year and allow employers and educators to network over lunch, and then enjoy a guest lecturer. The luncheons are sponsored by CCTS and paid for with the funds raised by the district’s annual golf tournament. The 2006 tournament will be held at Woodcrest Country Club on June 12th. The cost is $155 and includes lunch, round of golf, dinner and gift items. Sponsors are also needed for this event. 
For more information about School to Careers or the golf tournament, please contact Dr. Kelly at 856-767-7000, ext. 

CCTS Students Participate in “Spirit Day”

They came out to compete, knowing that their success hindered upon their ability to work together. Ultimately, the lessons they learned were greater than any from a social studies textbook.

On Friday, Sept. 23, students at the Gloucester Township Campus of Camden County Technical Schools participated in "Spirit Day," which focused on developing communication skills, relationships and personal responsibility. 
They engaged in learning outside of the classroom by partaking in a series of team-oriented activities.

The day set out to achieve one simple goal, according to assistant principal John Hourani.

"The purpose of today is to enlighten people to respect others," he said. "We want to discourage making fun of people at the expense of others and to create an environment where bullying and harassment are not tolerated."
"Spirit Day" began three years ago as a way for students to work together without the books or instructional guides. The school formed a C.O.R. (Committee of Respect) composed of nearly 30 faculty and staff to plan the day. A student organization known as H.O.P.E. (Helping Other People Evolve) also played a part in its creation, according to Hourani.

"Anti-bullying seems like a nationwide interest. These activities emphasize good behavior," he said.

The students divided into three separate teams: white, blue and gold. 
They created classroom banners and bandanas to both establish a group identity and to stress the theme of respect. They also wore wrist bands similar to the yellow "Livestrong" ones. The students' bands preached the message, "it's all about respect."

Some of the activities each group participated in included relay races, the island challenge, which required students to stack on top of one another with a small piece of wood serving as a foundation, and the human knot, which forced students to place a suspended ball onto a cone by using a series of attached ropes.
"Each activity stresses team-building. To succeed, they have to work together," Hourani said.

Even the faculty worked together on different teams. Culinary Arts teacher Elizabeth Einsel, along with fellow staff members Paul Blake and Mary Hobben, made sure their combined efforts carried over to the students.
Einsel felt it was particularly evident in the relay races.
"My students are the champs," she said, reassuring that it was matter of pride as opposed to bragging.

In addition to the physical games, the students attended performance of "Mainstreamed," which focused on the themes of peer pressure, belonging and tolerance. "Spirit Day" also welcomed back guest speaker Michael Fowlin, who impersonated different, stereotypical characters in society to relay similar messages.
One change made to this year's program involved organization. Senior Nick McConathey saw less aimless running and more attention to the activities at hand.
"It's a lot more structured this year. I really like the way it's set-up," he said.
Fellow student Jessica Wang felt the day served as a good way to mix amusement with education.

"It's a lot of fun out here. I learned to get along with people by working together," she said. 

McConathey also noticed a positive attitude throughout the day. 
"Everyone wants to be a part of the team. People are really making new friends," he said. 

Link to Phillies story.

Chuck Langerman, a math teacher at Camden County Technical Schools, recently submitted an essay to the Philadelphia Phillies about Ernie Histing, plumbing teacher at CCTS. Langerman wrote about his excellent teaching qualities and it was selected as a winner. The Phillies received 1,500 essays and only 10 were chosen. Langerman and Histing will each receive two tickets to the April 29th "Teacher Appreciation" game. Histing, and the 9 other teachers who won, will be asked to go on the field for recognition and a dance with the Phanatic! 

Brian Burns, Flower Show Coordinator, has been teaching ornamental horticulture at CCTS for 21 years. “I am proud of the students’ accomplishments in planning, organizing and competing in the event,” he said. “It’s an opportunity for the students to demonstrate and exhibit their skills and creativity in both the mechanics and art of floral design. I have found the Flower Show to be a great motivator for the students. It gives them the opportunity to see how their skill levels compare to other students from local high schools.”

Through the sale of flowers and plants grown by the students, the Camden Tech East FFA Chapter is able to provide trophies, plaques and ribbons for this event.

“The green industry is a multi-million dollar industry and I am pleased to play a part in developing the skills and interests of our students,” said Burns. “This industry has employment opportunities for all levels of ability, and how far a student goes is only limited by their desire to succeed.”

At the FFA State Horticulture Expo, Camden County Technical Schools won three first place awards. Crystal Fisher won for her flowering dish garden; Lenkena Ma, won for her Valentine's arrangement, and Indya Gonzalez won for her Mardi Gras arrangement. In addition, the floral design team that competed in the hands-on competition took 5th place out of 19 competing teams.