A local teacher has won a prestigious Advisor of the Year award for SkillsUSA’s Region 1 for her participation in SkillsUSA and career and technical education.
Jennifer Probst is a certified Dental Assisting instructor at Monroe 2-Orleans BOCES Career and Technical Education in Spencerport, where she has transformed the dental program into one of the most advanced in the state. With over 25 years of experience in the dental field as a hygienist, assistant and office manager, she brings unmatched industry insight into her teaching. Her work has earned her numerous honors, including ACTE Region 1 New Teacher of the Year in 2020 and finalist for National New Teacher of the Year in 2021.
Under Probst’s leadership, WEMOCO expanded its dental assisting program from one to two years, providing students with over 200 hours of hands-on work-based learning at more than 60 partner dental offices and labs. This innovation has made WEMOCO the only high school in New York where graduates earn licensed dental assistant credentials recognized by the state’s Office of Professions. Jennifer is also a member of the American Orthodontic Society and the Academy of Laser Dentistry, where she serves on the Safety Committee.
Her SkillsUSA chapter has been recognized as a Gold Chapter of Distinction for multiple years and was named a national SkillsUSA Model of Excellence in 2023. “By blending academic knowledge with real-world experience,” she says, “we prepare students to enter their careers confident, capable and ready to lead.” Despite her many accomplishments, Jennifer says her favorite roles are being a wife and a mom to two daughters.
“Jennifer is a SkillsUSA champion with a true passion for helping students develop their talents and leadership,” said Chelle Travis, executive director of SkillsUSA. “She supports quality programming for students built around the SkillsUSA Framework, which prepares them for further education or joining America’s skilled workforce,” she added.
SkillsUSA created the Advisor of the Year award to recognize dedicated career and technical education instructors who serve as SkillsUSA advisors. Each state selects a winner, and then a regional winner is selected. The top five regional finalists will be interviewed for SkillsUSA Advisor of the Year on June 24 and the national winner will be announced that night at the Opening Session of the
SkillsUSA national conference at State Farm Arena in Atlanta with a crowd of 17,000 people. Region 1 includes these 11 states and the District of Columbia: Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland and Washington, D.C.
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