After more than 24 years of teaching at Cayuga-Onondaga BOCES, Community Experience Programs (CEP) teacher Janine Svitavsky still enjoys working with her students each day.
After spending time at Millard Fillmore Elementary School, Auburn High School and at Port Byron Central Schools, Janine landed in the CEP program at Cayuga Community College, where she hopes to remain.
“I love the kids, they are the best part,” she said. “But secretly, I really enjoy modifying text so that it fits the students' skill set. This gets to expose the students to all kinds of information and can showcase what they have learned. That spark when the kids get it, it lights up their faces, and it’s just beautiful.”
Janine said her co-workers provide a “fountain of knowledge,” and said they attribute to her happiness and success at BOCES.
“They pull in so much wisdom from both years at school and their lives outside of school. It is fun,” she said.
When asked what advice she would give to new staff, Janine said it is important to be kind to yourself, as well as to seek out the advice and experience of mentors.
In her free time, Janine loves to thrift and garden. She also helps Port Byron CSD with their school plays and is a member of the Port Byron Library, where they meet weekly on sewing projects and to solve the world’s problems!
