Hi, my name is Angela Spreter, and I am the Computer Graphics teacher here at the Communications Academy. I hope that you are enjoying our website. New pages are added to our site periodically which display the great work that our students are producing, as well as provide information about what's going on at the Academy.

I have worked at BOCES since the fall of 1997, and have enjoyed every minute of it. I hold a BFA in Graphic Design from SUNY Oswego, and a Master's in Art Education from the College of New Rochelle. Before becoming a teacher, I worked as a graphic designer and art director in the field of magazine publishing.

My prior work experience enables me to provide a lessons which are true to real work situations. Programs such as Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, and QuarkXPress are learned in my class, in addition to the production of web pages and introduction to various 3D programs. Students also learn about typography, color theory, drawing, layout, and design. I am very proud of the work that they create, and hope that you will take a look at some of it on the projects page.

Contact info:
Email: aspreter@pnwboces.org
Phone: (914) 248-2213
Fax: (914) 248-2388

Sharlene Bass has been a math teacher at P/NW BOCES since 2002 and with the Communications Academy since 2005.  In addition, she is a Certified Entrepreneurship Teacher through the National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE).  

Click here for the schoolwires website for Sharlene Bass.

Contact info:
Email: sbass@pnwboces.org
Phone: (914) 248-3816
Fax: (914) 248-2388

Stephanie Buckhout is an English teacher for the Communications Academy at Putnam/Northern Westchester BOCES (since 2005); as well, she teaches Participation in Government and Economics in the 4 Hour Senior Option program.  

Click here to visit Ms. Buckhout’s Schoolwires website:

Contact info:
Email: sbuckhout@pnwboces.org
Phone: (914) 248-3830
Fax: (914) 248-2388

Vito Rinaldo has taught at PNW BOCES for the past 36 years.  He began in the Exploratory Occupational Education program, operated a Learning Lab program for all the courses in the main Tech Center, served as a consultant teacher to a variety of courses and taught Information Systems in the Readiness program.  In September 1995 Vito, along with Ingrid Boffi and Liz Marques, helped launch the Communications Academy, which is located in Tech South.  It began as an interdisciplinary combination of Commercial Art, Television Production and Computer Graphics.  It currently includes 5 distinct courses: Advertising Art & Design, Animation & Motion Graphics, Computer Graphics, Fashion Design & Merchandising and TV Production & Digital Film.  Vito has been using computers in the classroom since 1983, when he wrote and received a grant to purchase Atari computers for the Learning Labs.  He designed the original website for the Communications Academy using a Classroom Prodigy grant.  Vito recently received a BOCES CHHOP Teacher Center grant to purchase software to develop more sophisticated web pages.  Currently Vito is the Team Leader of the Communications Academy.  In addition, he chairs the Technology Committee for the Career and Technical Education department.

Vito has also taken a leadership role in support of BOCES on a statewide level. He is currently a member of the New York State United Teachers (NYSUT) BOCES Statewide Committee and serves as a member of the NYSUT/BOCES District Superintendent Workgroup. In addition, he was recently appointed to the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) standing committee for Career and Technical Education, which works to garner support for CTE at the federal level of government.  Vito is also a member of the Executive Board of the New York State Career and Technical Education Resource Center (CTERC).

He is looking forward to September 2010, when the staff and students, past and present, will be celebrating the 15 th Anniversary of the Communications Academy.

Contact info:
Email: vrinaldo@pnwboces.org
Phone: (914)248-2488
Fax: (914)248-2388

Gerry Battista is a Certified School Counselor and a NYS Licensed Mental Health Counselor.  She has worked for PNW BOCES over ten years in the adult and secondary education departments. 

Currently she is the Counselor for the Tech South Building.  She assists students in The Communication Academy:  Advertising Art and Design, Animation and Motion Graphics, Computer Graphics, Fashion Design and Merchandising and TV Production and Digital Film, as well as Introduction to Teaching, Childcare Aide, Early Childhood Education, Culinary Arts and Food Prep Assistant programs.  In addition Ms. Battista works with the 4 hour students to assist them with the completion of their internship requirements.  This support is available to all students seeking an internship experience.

Ms. Battista actively works with students, parents, and staff to ensure that every student is successful here at BOCES.  Her goal is to see each student realize their potential and attain the skills they need to pursue higher education or transition to the workplace.  Her activities include class scheduling and maintenance, academic , behavioral and counseling support, career and job assistance, and providing information on college planning, financial aid and scholarships.

Contact info:
Email: gbattista@pnwboces.org
Phone: (914) 248-2220
Fax: (914) 248-2206