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I
Am BOCES:
A column designed to help BOCES
staff meet their colleagues and BOCES students and learn
more about all the varied work we do across our
organization.
Did you celebrate Gray Day? Meet its creator,
Special Education student Zach Pierce.
Twenty-year-old Zach Pierce has been a student for the past
six years in the BOCES Special Education Skills Development
II (SDII) classroom of teacher Robin Gibelius. While in this
class, Zach has grown academically and socially, as well as
learned to better advocate for his needs. Zach will graduate
from this program in June and has begun making plans along
with his teachers and organizations, such as the Northeastern
Association for the Blind, for his transition into the world
beyond BOCES.
In early November, Zach approached Gibelius and class social
worker Robin Lippman-Scharf with the idea of creating a
school-wide awareness day for those with brain cancer and
tumors, called Gray Day. Zach, himself, was diagnosed with a
brain tumor as a young child. Although his tumor is
considered benign, Zach lives each day with this condition
and must regularly monitor it with the help of his doctors
to stay healthy.
“A significant goal in our class is to help the students
develop the self-advocacy skills they will need to be
successful young adults,” explains Gibelius. “We were
excited when Zach told us about his idea for Gray Day. Not
only was this a way for Zach to advocate for himself and let
the students at Niskayuna know a bit more about who he is
and what he deals with daily, but it could inspire other
students to open up about their own concerns.”
On Friday, November 13, Zach celebrated Gray Day along
with his classmates, teachers and peers who attend Niskayuna
High School. In addition to donning gray tees, "hoodies" and
awareness ribbons, the special education students and high
school’s Pep Club hosted a bake sale — which brought in a
record $300 plus — in support of not-for-profit T.H.E. Brain
Trust.
Gray Day events were scheduled to coincide with Brain
Tumor Awareness Day on November 15.
Zach recently spoke to Insider about his time in the BOCES
program and some of his personal and academic accomplishments.
Here’s what he had to say:
What are some of the highlights of your BOCES
experience?
One of the highlights of my BOCES experience has been making
new friends and doing as much as I am capable of.
Who are some of your role models?
My mom has been my role model because of how she takes care
of me and my four sisters and gets us where we need to be
all of the time.
What do you consider some of your most significant
personal accomplishments?
I have had to learn to deal with having many MRIs and I have
had to learn to control my attitude about them and to ignore
the noise and try to go to sleep.
What about academics? What are some of your most
significant academic achievements?
One of my biggest academic accomplishments is that I am
finishing high school and am currently on track to get a
local high school diploma. I have passed all of my Regents
Competency Tests (RCT) so far and only have one left to
pass. I have worked very hard to pass all of my classes and
the RCTs.
What do you enjoy doing in your spare time? Hobbies?
Recreation?
I like to watch television, play card games, go bowling,
call my friends and do things with them. I also participate
in the Living Resources Art Program. I just joined Best
Buddies and am looking forward to doing activities with this
group.
How has your family helped support you as you move
into the world beyond BOCES?
My family and the staff at BOCES have shown me various
programs to consider after graduation. I am working with
many people who are helping me to explore job possibilities.
My mom has been willing to transport me to anywhere I need
to be.
What do you and your family enjoy doing together?
We enjoy being home together as a family and doing
things together like watching television or playing games.
What advice might you give to other students in the
special education program?
I would tell other students to try their hardest and to not
be embarrassed about who they are and if they need help.
Is there anything we haven’t asked about you that
you’d most like our BOCES community to know?
It is important to speak up for yourself and to
learn to advocate for yourself.
Do you
have a suggestion for who should be featured in an upcoming
"I Am BOCES" column?
Contact your division communication specialist, listed on
the homepage of the BOCES Insider.
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