Courtney Galuski is the Special Education Reading Resource Teacher at George Washington School. She’s been with the BOCES for almost three years, and loves that she is able to help students who really need it the most.
Q: What is your role at Questar III, and where do you work?
A: I am the Special Education Reading Resource Teacher for Questar III BOCES. Currently I am based solely at George Washington School working with our K-5 student population. My job is to provide individualized reading lessons for our students who struggle in the area of literacy. Along with providing individual tutoring sessions, I also provide teachers with literacy resources, assist with Fountas and Pinnell testing and collect/analyze benchmark assessment data for the organization.
Q: How long have you worked here?
A: I began working for Questar III BOCES as a teaching assistant. I held this position for a little over two years before I accepted my new position. I began the Special Education Reading Resource Teacher position in July of 2014.
Q: How do you see your role in supporting the BOCES and the school districts it supports?
A: My role as a Special Education Reading Resource teacher for Questar III BOCES is to provide one-on-one, individualized reading instruction to students who struggle in the area of literacy. These one-on-one tutoring sessions consist of instructional activities that focus on reading, writing and word study. Each lesson is designed to meet students at their current level of understanding and provides just enough of a challenge to assist them in making improvements in each area. Although we want all students reading texts at grade level, these lessons provide students with texts at their current reading level and gradually move them forward at their own pace. Reading is an extremely challenging academic area for many of our students, so this one-on-one instructional time is a great way to focus on each individual child’s needs and give them the uninterrupted literacy instruction that they need.
Q: What is your background like – previous jobs, your education, etc.?
A: I received my Bachelor’s Degree in Childhood and Special Education from the College of Saint Rose. I went on to receive my Master’s Degree in Literacy B-6 from the University at Albany. It was the Literacy program at UAlbany that really led me to want to become a reading teacher. My first teaching job was as a substitute teacher for the Albany City School District. I then became a teaching assistant for Questar III BOCES. I was located at both the Columbia Greene Education Center and George Washington School.
Q: What do you like most about your job?
A: The main reason that I enjoy my job here at Questar III BOCES is because I feel like I am helping the population of students who truly need it the most. Also, the support system at Questar III is unlike any other. From administrators, to teachers/assistants, to crisis workers, etc., I know that I am always being supported in the work that I do.
Q: Tell us a bit about your life outside of Questar III.
A: Outside of work, I really love to travel. Last year I went to both Europe and Australia and had amazing experiences at each of the places I visited. I also really enjoy softball. I played softball for four years when I attended The College of Saint Rose and to this day, it is still a big part of my life. I am currently coaching JV softball at Shaker High School and give individual pitching lessons, as well.
