If you ask any Monroe 2-Orleans BOCES administrator or any health careers student about Rachel Piccolo, they will share these words: dedicated, committed, and a staunch advocate for her students. In August, Piccolo was recognized for her commitment to her students and was awarded the 2025 New York State (NYS) Association for Career and Technical Education (CTE) Teacher of the Year.
Rachael Piccolo, a registered nurse, began her career at Monroe 2-Orleans BOCES in 1996 as the school nurse at WEMOCO, the Monroe 2 BOCES Career and Technical Education Center in Spencerport. She continued this path until 2010, when she made a career change. She began her new vocation as the instructor of the Nurse Assisting and Associated Health Careers program.
“This was a huge leap of faith for me, but I wanted a challenge and an opportunity to grow professionally and personally. But more importantly, I wanted to become more involved with students,” Piccolo said.
This program at WEMOCO is a two-year program. Students learn the basics of patient care with the goal of entry-level healthcare positions. Classroom instruction is coupled with labs that simulate patient care with lifelike mannequins. Topics covered include end-of-life care, nutrition, vital signs, geriatric patient care, and more. The program also includes work-based learning opportunities where students earn clinical hours working with patients or residents in a healthcare facility. Upon completing this program, students earn their Red Cross First Aid/CPR/AED certification and New York State Nurse Aid certification. This program lays the groundwork for students to enter the workforce and/or postsecondary education to continue their education and expand their healthcare careers.
Classroom and clinical instruction are only one part of what Piccolo teaches. She emphasizes the development of real-life practical skills.
“The program is very much student-driven. I stress the importance of life skills, like being on time for class, completing work on time, and appropriate behavior in the workplace. Every Friday, I meet with each student. We set goals for the week and, if appropriate, long-term goals,” she explained.
The program has changed drastically since Piccolo took the reins – from a one-year program to now a two-year program. The curriculum has evolved, as have the clinical and certification opportunities. Enrollment has increased. This school year, 75 students are registered.
“The first year that I taught, there were 12 students in the program,” Piccolo said.
Lisa Dentinger is a Nurse Assisting and Associated Health Careers program graduate and one of Piccolo’s former students. Dentinger credits Piccolo for helping her find her path in life.
