February is Career and Technical Education Month® (CTE), a time to celebrate our schools, programs, staff, and students who are working to develop the essential skills required for today’s workforce. Students choose a different type of education when they choose CTE; more hands-on, physical, and career focused.
With our country facing a significant skills gap, these students are stepping in to fill the void. A CTE program not only prepares them for a successful career but also ensures our workforce remains competitive and resilient.
Join us as we highlight and celebrate all things CTE this CTE Month. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube, and LinkedIn to learn more about our programs and our students.
Questar III BOCES Fire Science student Daniel Dugan is a senior at Donald R. Kline Technical School from Cairo-Durham Central School District. Daniel is also an active volunteer with the Cairo-Durham Fire Department, a program requirement.
Daniel volunteered with his department before joining Questar III. He was originally interested in the Aviation program, but after learning about the Fire Science program, he shifted his direction.
“I knew my dad would support me in this program, and I already had an interest in firefighting,” said Daniel. “My dad is a Lieutenant with FDNY. He’s shared so many of his experiences and stories with me, it inspired me to join. I also like helping people and putting others first.”
Daniel Dugan lowers a saw to the ground level with a rope during a training exercise.
The fire science program prepares students like Daniel for a future in firefighting. The program offers students the first step in certification, the Basic Exterior Firefighting Operations (BEFO) course, which allows firefighters to respond to emergencies as exterior firefighters. From here, students can continue their training to become interior firefighters, along with many other certifications. The BEFO course launches a student’s firefighting career or community volunteer efforts.
While Daniel thinks firefighting could be a plan if other career paths don’t work out, for now, he is in the program to support his community. Daniel plans to join the Army following graduation.
“I’ve thought about firefighting for the Army, but I’m mostly interested in special operations,” Daniel said. “There are many transferrable skills from this program. I’ve learned how to breach a door, hoist things, climb a ladder. There’s definitely some physical training that we do here that I’m going to need in the future.”
Daniel shared some classroom details that make their program special and unique. For example, instead of tests, their teacher, Mr. Fox, has “celebrations.” Additionally, at random points during the day, Mr. Fox yells out that their arms are bleeding. This is a signal for students to quickly apply their tourniquets because you never know when an emergency might occur.
Daniel Dugan (bottom left) poses with his classmates in front of the Questar III fire truck.
“Mr. Fox knows his stuff,” Daniel said. “He uses his own experience to help us grow and learn.”
The Fire Science program is a brand-new program for Questar III BOCES and one of the first amongst BOCES programs across New York State. With a growing demand for firefighters, this program aims to fill that need within our communities. The NYS BEFO program is a 79-hour course required for volunteer firefighters, which is completed on a volunteer’s personal time. The opportunity to integrate this course into our program will help ease that burden from young volunteers while also strengthening their career readiness, leadership, communication, and other essential soft skills – just as all CTE programs do.
“If you like working hands-on and want to try something different, you should join a (CTE) program,” said Daniel. “I love coming here, it’s one of the reasons I wake up in the morning!”