The William Floyd School District recently had the opportunity to showcase the high school’s award-winning Career and Technical Education (CTE) program at “Pathways to Partnerships,” a CTE a workforce development resource conference presented by the Nassau-Suffolk School Boards Association, the Suffolk County School Superintendents Association and the Nassau County Council of School Superintendents at the Hilton Long Island on January 22.

The event kicked off with the Presentation of Colors by the William Floyd NJROTC under the leadership of Senior Chief Andrew DiDonato and included a keynote presentation by William Floyd Superintendent of Schools Kevin Coster on William Floyd High School’s vast CTE program offerings and the opportunities provided to students through business and college/university/trade school partnerships.

When the William Floyd CTE program began in 2013, it served 136 students in three academy programs – carpentry, cosmetology and culinary arts. In 2014, two more academies were added to the offerings: automotive and medical assisting. Then in 2018, the barbering academy was added and overall CTE enrollment doubled to 275. Fast forward seven years, and now the William Floyd CTE program serves nearly 750 students in eight academy offerings – automotive, barbering, carpentry, cosmetology, culinary arts, marine & motorsports, medical assisting, and personal trainer & nutrition. There are also five pathways that students can take toward graduation including accounting, architecture, business marketing & management, engineering, and Microsoft Office specialist.

During this time, student participation in the William Floyd chapter of SkillsUSA, a national non-profit partnership of students, instructors, and industry professionals working to ensure a future, skilled workforce through educational programs, events and student competitions, also increased in enrollment, nearly tripling over the past three school years to 125 student participants today. This has resulted in the chapter winning the SkillsUSA 2025 Growth Chapter Award.

“For the graduating class of 2026, 50 percent of the senior class cohort is eligible to receive a CTE endorsement on their diploma, a designation that gives students a leg up in the next stage of their lives, whether they decide to enter the workforce, college, a trade school or even the military,” said Mr. Coster. “These are valuable skills that students will take with them throughout their lives.”

The William Floyd High School CTE program, under the leadership of Robert Felicetta, assistant principal, WFHS, and the administrator in charge of CTE; Allison Wiegand, CTE chairperson and work-based learning coordinator; and Jacqueline Giacalone, business & technology education chairperson, has built a vast group of community collaborators spanning across businesses, colleges, universities and trade schools, which provides hands-on opportunities for students while giving collaborators the opportunity to work with the best-of-the best in the future.

Also accompanying the William Floyd contingent at this event were Cara Cliffe, barbering instructor and SkillsUSA advisor; Karisa Beyers, cosmetology instructor; and CTE students Annalyse Cruz, barbering; Avery Curtin, personal training & nutrition; Megan DiGiacomo, cosmetology; and Corinne Neidig, medical assisting.

Business and industry partners include the Haugland Group, Mastic Beach Volunteer Ambulance, Northwell Health, IGHL, Unique Fitness, Steiger Craft, National Academy of Sports Medicine, Town of Brookhaven Division of Harbors & Waterways, Long Island Aquarium, Top Golf, East End Fitness, Pension Annuity and Health Funds, Monti’s Barbershop, the Katherine Jon Salon and Spa, Lucharitos, South Country Ambulance Company, Tend Coffee, Ulta Beauty, Electrical and HVAC/R Training Center, SkillsUSA, Riverhead Building Supply, Twin Forks Window Company, EY, Doza Yoga, Drone Cadets, Junior Achievement of New York, Shirley Auto Body, BMW, Toyota, Sayville Ford, State Farm, Lighthouse Marine Supply, Artisan Construction Associates, Spellmans Marine, and Yamaha Boats.

College/University/Trade School partnerships include Farmingdale State University, St. Joseph’s University, Fairleigh Dickinson University, New York Institute of Beauty, Johnson & Wales University, Five Towns College, Stony Brook University, SUNY Broome Community College, Fashion Institute of Technology, Molloy University, Suffolk County Community College and Universal Technical Institute.

Please enjoy this great CTE video showcased at the conference created by William Floyd High School library media specialist Stacy Redmond!