Instructional Support

The Division of Instructional Support Services (ISS) provides cutting-edge support for teachers, librarians and administrators as they prepare students to successfully meet the New York State Learning Standards. BOCES provides a strong foundation and opportunity for educators to support the latest national and statewide initiatives.

A wide variety of programs is offered to school districts to promote curricular and extracurricular enrichment for students of all grade levels.

Curricular Initiatives

CULTURALLY RELEVANT PRACTICES

E-LEARNING

The e-Learning Experience consists of a variety of instructional and staff development applications utilizing currently available technologies. This Co-Ser supports strategies including, but not limited to, videoconferencing, electronic field-trips, project-based instructional activities between two or more sites, professional development activities, online course offerings for students and adults, and peer-to-peer classroom interactions. This service also provides districts with the opportunity to participate in NYS distance learning activities to facilitate individual and group learning options. Contract arrangements for multiple district use of specific software and web-based programs for content specific activities, remediation and assessment will be facilitated.

ENGINEERING, STEM, AND STEAM

New research shows instruction in engineering enhances the way students learn science—as well as math and other subjects. The new Next Generation Science Standards recommend that engineering instruction should start in the elementary grades. The nation's largest elementary engineering curriculum, EiE, has been used by an estimated 4.5 million children in all 50 states. EiE is now offered at Orange-Ulster BOCES as part of the Division of Instructional Support Services through its Outdoor Education and Environmental Studies co-service.

GRANTS

LIBRARY SERVICES

MANDARIN CHINESE

MODEL SCHOOLS

Jaclyn Ellefsen
Lead Technology Integration Specialist

Regional Education Center at Arden Hill
4 Harriman Heights Road
Goshen, NY 10924
845-781-4363

Access the OU BOCES Model Schools Blog

The Model Schools Program provides training and support to assist school districts in the effective integration of technology with instruction to improve student achievement and support the New York State Learning Standards and Assessments.

More on Model Schools
Instructional Technology courses at the BOCES Technology Learning Center are designed to build technology skills and support teachers with the integration of technology in the classroom as a tool for instruction. The courses demonstrate how to integrate technology with curriculum, assessments and the New York State Learning Standards.

OUTDOOR AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION

Kimberly Hooper, Coordinator, Division of Instructional Support Services
Phone: 845-781-4363 ext. 10743

A variety of programs are offered to school districts to promote the teaching of all curricula in the out-of-doors, to develop environmental awareness and conservation, and to improve the atmosphere of learning and social relationships.

Outdoor Education and Environmental Education Programs include:

Resident Camp Program
Community resources
School site development
Resources for the Development of Curriculum
Teacher training
Field trips

PROFESSIONAL LEARNING & DEVELOPMENT

REGIONAL CURRICULUM MATERIALS

Social Studies Inquiry Initiative

This is a shared curriculum and teaching project directed by OUB and Sullivan BOCES. The purpose of the project is to provide a forum for teachers and leaders to create and implement visionary social studies inquiry frames and supports. All component districts of OUB and Sullivan BOCES may participate, however they must sign up each year to be considered active members of this endeavor.

The 2015-2016 school year was our first year for the implementation of Pre K – 8 inquiry frames and the writing year for grades 9 -12 inquiry frames.

The posted materials are for the exclusive use of participating districts. These districts have been provided with the passwords.

Questions should be addressed to the Director of the Division of Instruction Dr. Diane Lang, Diane.Lang or OUB project coordinator Kathleen.Helhoski.

ACCESS Grade 1 (This would be a list that provide access to Shared Google Drives)

Science Kits

The NYS Math, Science and Technology Learning Standards stress a hands-on and minds-on approach. "Critical to understanding science concepts is the use of scientific inquiry to develop explanations of natural phenomena. It is recommended that students have the opportunity to develop their skills of analysis, inquiry, and design through active investigations in grades K,1,2,3,4 and through active laboratory work in grades 5,6,7,8 on a regular basis." To support the MST Learning Standards, OUB maintains a system of preparation, maintenance, distribution and ordering of Elementary/Intermediate Instructional Kits and the Star Lab.

STARLAB

StarLab is a multicultural, multidisciplinary portable teaching environment for education. It is supported by a curriculum of related programs and activities. Teacher guides and detailed lesson plans are included for all grade levels from K-12.

The dome-shaped planetarium is easily inflated with the use of a fan. The dome is made from an opaque, reflective fabric designed for interactive hands-on, minds-on activities. The projector, using your choice of 12 included or endless self created lessons, projects vivid images on the inside of the dome.

The Digital StarLab comes with a Macbook loaded with Starry Night which is used to generate images displayed by a projector through a special lens called a fisheye lens projecting a 180-degree field of view with limited or no distortion. StarLab contains thousands of famous deep space objects with detailed descriptions from Messier and Caldwell catalogs, Herschel catalog of 400 deep sky objects, and corrected NGC/IC catalogs with over 13,000 deep sky objects. StarLab also provides the ability to display planets and all known solar system moons as quality textured, accurately placed 3D objects, and much more.

Learn more about StarLab

REGIONAL TESTING & ASSESSMENT CENTER

SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING & SUPPORTS

WORKSHOPS

EXTRACURRICULAR INITIATIVES

AMY BULL CRIST YOUTH IN GOVERNMENT PROGRAM

Melanie Lofaro, Assistant Director, Division of Instructional Support Services
Phone: 845-781-4363, Ext. 10702

The Amy Bull Crist Youth in Government Program was inspired by Mrs. Katherine St. George, former chairman of the Orange County Republican Committee and member of the U.S. House of Representatives. While addressing an Orange County Hi-Y Assembly in 1942, Mrs. St. George related that she “found people well acquainted with national politics but woefully lacking in an understanding of how their local town and county governments functioned” and appealed for a greater interest in local government.

In 1944 the Youth in Government program was inaugurated through the guidance of Mrs. Amy Bull Crist, Orange County Superintendent of Schools for whom the organization is named. Guided by Mrs. St. George’s vision and Mrs. Crist’s unwavering devotion, the program offers students the chance to learn first hand about the democratic process. Students participate in mock conventions, student run elections, and shadow elected officials from the local to national levels of government. County Service Day is the culmination of many students’ endless hours of work toward the goal of a better understanding of our governmental process.

In no other county in New York is there a program as long standing and encompassing as Orange County’s Amy Bull Crist Youth-In-Government Program.

EXPLORATORY ENRICHMENT K-12

Kimberly Hooper, Coordinator, Division of Instructional Support Services
Phone: 845-781-4363, Ext. 10743

This program provides opportunities beyond the traditional classroom to enrich the total learning experience for students in grades K-12.

The program is highly flexible and responsive to individual districts' requests for enrichment opportunities both in the classroom and place-based field trip learning experiences.

For example, while a class is studying the Revolutionary War, students may have the opportunity to participate in a field trip to Washington's Headquarters or Knox Headquarters in Newburgh. To enhance STEM, trips to the Liberty Science Center would be coordinated by OU BOCES. Excursions may also include New York City cultural events and areas of local interest where students are introduced to a variety of art forms including theater and nationally renowned museums.

To supplement classroom-based curricula, OUB will arrange for various programs such as The Museum of the Hudson Highlands to visit classrooms to facilitate presentations on a wide variety of science topics. These classroom curricula expansion opportunities can be tailored for any grade level.

District requests can include a specific field trip destination or in-class program. If you would like suggestions, OUB will research and make recommendations for topic-related destinations and programs. We will coordinate the enrichment experience from start to finish.

This program expands the opportunities for students to participate in unique educational experiences that enhance the classroom curriculum and support both Common Core and the NYS Standards.

COST: There is no base cost for this program. Districts are charged per individual requests.

INDEPENDENT STUDENT ENGAGEMENT & ACADEMIC COMPETITIONS

This program is intended for all students grades 6-12 who are attending public and private schools in our region. These independent student engagement and academic competitions allow students to participate in educational activities that go beyond the typical classroom setting. Students can elect to participate in these competitions for a chance to be recognized and/or awarded for their research, creativity, skill, and knowledge.

MOCK TRIAL

The Mock Trial Program, coordinated by Orange-Ulster BOCES, is sponsored by the New York State Bar Association. Each year, teams from a number of Orange County high schools are given the opportunity to analyze and interpret a trial prepared by the NYSBA and to present their interpretation in a courtroom before a county judge. To prepare for the tournament, each school has a teacher-coach as well as a local attorney working with them to help them with the nuances of the courtroom and presentation skills. This experience is one that cannot be duplicated in the classroom. The winner of the county tournament goes on to regionals with the possibility of going to the state tournament.

ODYSSEY OF THE MIND

Odyssey of the Mind has been the world’s greatest creative problem-solving program since its beginning, in 1978. What started as a project for students in a single industrial design class has grown into a world-wide program that has reached multiple generations, allowing students to learn, develop, and employ skills related to teamwork, resource management, designing and making, divergent thinking, and so much more. Odyssey of the Mind provides students with a place to learn today’s creative problem-solving skills while having fun!

SENIOR ENRICHMENT PROGRAM

Kimberly Hooper, Coordinator, Division of Instructional Support Services

4 Harriman Drive
Goshen, NY 10924
845-781-4363, Ext. 10743

The Senior Enrichment Program exposes academically talented senior students to a variety of stimulating experiences and presentations. Our planned activities address the following College and Career Readiness Common Core Standards:

Research to Build and Present Knowledge
Comprehension and Collaboration
Presentation of Knowledge and Ideas
Vocabulary Acquisition and Use

Regional Education Center
at Arden Hill
4 Harriman Drive
Goshen, NY 10924
845-781-4363, Ext. 10715

Diane E. Lang, PhD
Director of Instructional Support Services

Melanie Lofaro, EdD
Assistant Director of Instructional Support Services

2025 Continuing Teacher Leader Education Hummingbird Cover

View the Professional Learning Course Catalog

Main Menu

Explore More

In This Section