Genesee Valley

You can’t coach speed. Or can you?

This coach isn’t sure. I recently cheered dozens of our youngest workforce development participants race their specially created cars in the soapbox derby in Batavia and Oakfield. I also had the pleasure of welcoming our latest class of pre-apprentice graduates where 10 students are now ready to enter the workforce.

Didn’t they all get a little faster?

I don’t think I could coach someone to run a 4.2 in the 40-yard dash, but in Genesee County I’m seeing so many youth speeding ahead in their journeys, creating memories and skills that will fuel them throughout their professional careers.

We witnessed that speed in action at the 3 rd annual Batavia BID Boxcar Derby where 32 local kids raced down Ellicott Avenue in downtown Batavia to showcase the hands-on work it took to assemble their own boxcar. These 7–10-year-olds assembled soapbox derby-style cars with a range of components, including axles, steering systems, brakes, and fiberglass shells, and showed off their creativity and imagination with awesome boxcar designs.

These events are special to me, working with the BID we collaborated on the rebirth of this event three years ago. My father Joseph was the 1951 Box Car Derby Champion when he was 12 years old; annually this event is dedicated to my father Joseph P. Suozzi and my brother Patrick Suozzi and sister Teresa R. Suozzi Wormley.

Congratulations to this year’s Suozzi Memorial Plaque winner: Kyle Mlyniec from John Kennedy School!

Although there could only be one winner, all the participants applied skills and strategies that will be transferable to their educational and professional endeavors, equipping them with a solid foundation for a successful, hands-on career in their community, and potentially leading to good-paying career opportunities.

While our younger generation of workforce professionals raced across the finish line, a group of our experienced students 18 years or older, are embarking on the completion of the Genesee Valley Pre-Apprenticeship Program, where students are entering the manufacturing and skilled trades with career-ready skills that prepare them on day one of the job.

I compare their workforce journey to minor-league baseball. There could be as many as four levels until you can make it to the major leagues. The emphasis until that point is development. There isn’t a focus on wins and losses, your manager or your boss wants to see you fine-tune your skills that will set you on the path to the major leagues.

The Genesee Valley Pre-Apprenticeship Program offers students the opportunity to hone their technical skills and gain valuable experience in a real-world setting. Just like a minor league player fine-tuning their craft before making it to the major leagues, this is the time to garner more experience building up hours in the training facility working your way towards a major league contract, and on your way to earning a good living in a mechatronics career.

After six short weeks, participants in the Genesee Valley Pre-Apprenticeship Program earned valuable experience and worked towards a NYS Registered Apprenticeship. The training provided at GV BOCES, by instructor Rich Monroe and at local employers cuts down on the resources, time, and capital that companies need to spend to get individuals ready to contribute to the workforce. This “Earn as you Learn” program is funded by Genesee Community College and supported by the Rochester Technology & Manufacturing Association along with the GCEDC. You can be the next student to take advantage of this FREE opportunity. 

Visit www.gcedc.com/careerchecklist to access our free career checklist, featuring eight essential steps to jumpstart your professional journey. 

If you are a student, parent, teacher, or guidance counselor contact me at csuozzi@gcedc.com to learn how to get involved today!

Chris “Coach SwazZ” Suozzi is the Executive Vice President of Business & Workforce Development at the Genesee County Economic Development Center.

Third-seed Batavia Notre Dame led the entire game to suffer a loss in the final seconds to Genesee Valley 59-54. The Irish was ahead the first half 23-18 led by Junior Mark Sanders, who sunk three three-point buckets, and Gabe McDonald and Colin McCulley added points for the Irish.

Controlling the ball and defense carried the Irish through the next quarter with Sanders, MacDonald and Cody Henry adding to Notre Dame’s lead 46-35 after three periods of play.

Genesee Valley kept chipping away at the deficit in the fourth quarter and defense stepped up their game. Senior Cody Schneider led the team with 10 in the quarter and 27 points overall in the game.

The Jaguars took the lead 51-50 with 3 minutes left to gain momentum on the Irish. Senior Evan Windus and Trevor Clark added points in the seesaw battle for the lead. 

With 22 seconds left, Genesee Valley was up by two but a personal foul and technical was called on Notre Dame with 3.3 seconds left, which ended the game 59-54. Batavia Notre Dame junior Mark Sanders finished with 19 points and senior Gabe MacDonald 14 points. 

Second-seed Genesee Valley will play number one-seed Avoca for the class D1 boys final this Sunday at the Blue Cross Arena in Rochester; game time is 3 p.m.

To view and or purchase photos, click here.

Press release:

Le Roy – Traumatic events can directly impact a student’s ability to learn. The National Survey of Children’s Exposure to Violence found that more than 60 percent of children surveyed experienced some form of trauma, crime, or abuse in the prior year, with some experiencing multiple traumas. This exposure often prevents students from their ability to focus in class, study or can even impair their capability to do well on a test.

The Genesee Valley Educational Partnership has a new Trauma, Illness and Grief (TIG) Service to serve component school districts by delivering training and crisis support that links schools’ vision for trauma-responsive practices to processes for implementing sustainable change.

The service includes crisis training for teams in each school district, crisis response support in the event of a school tragedy, public relations/communications support and regional coordination of services to support students with mental health needs.

The TIG service brings together school districts and mental health providers to create a comprehensive support system in the Genesee Valley region.

The mission of TIG is to maintain and grow a community and school-based consortium of culturally sensitive and clinically appropriate training, support, and resource services to assist schools in responding to the emotional needs of children, teachers, and other school personnel, which arise from trauma, violence, illness, grief and loss.  

The TIG core curriculum prepares schools/districts to respond and intervene effectively during times of crisis and to support resiliency. This shared training assures that any responders are able to effectively and efficiently intervene to support their own district as well as dis­tricts throughout the network.

In the event of a district- or school-wide crisis, school districts can deploy and receive responders from both within and outside of the school in a coordinated and systematic manner through the Back Up Support Network.

Julie Donlon, assistant superintendent for the Genesee Valley Educational Partnership, explains why this service was launched and how it supports component districts.

“Despite our best efforts in taking a proactive approach at protecting our students, staff and communities from trauma, illness, grief and loss, life events happen that impact people in different ways," Donlon said. "The TIG service is designed to create supportive networks that encompass trained professionals to respond effectively in times of crisis.

"GVEP has partnered with Monroe County TIG to serve schools in the Genesee Valley region to ensure our students, staff and community have access to comprehensive support networks during times of tragedy. Through a regional approach, we've partnered with districts and local agencies to build a stronger, more resilient community.

"The service revolves around proactive efforts in planning, preparation and response. Together, we are stronger.”

About GVEP

The Genesee Valley Educational Partnership operates as a Board of Cooperative Educational Services providing shared programs and services to 22 component school districts located in Genesee, Wyoming, Livingston and Steuben counties in New York state.