STAFFORD TECHNICAL CENTER - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- History and Independent
- Instructor and Independent Study Instructor
- Social Studies Instructor
Alesha Kennedy is our History instructor and Independent Study instructor. She graduated from RHS 2015, and loved the area so much that she decided to stay.
She has a BA in History from Castleton University with Secondary Education Licensure as well as currently working on her Masters in Curriculum and Instruction at Castleton.
Mrs Kennedy has previously taught history at RHS.
She enjoys traveling (Costa Rica, England, France, and Italy), reading, and spending time with her husband, child and Siberian Huskies, and her 2 nephews.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Program Advisory Committee
Bret Hudson joined Stafford in August 2018. Bret grew up in Central Vermont and currently resides in his childhood home with his own family now. He has worked in local autobody shops and discovered his passion for building cars. He opened his own business and has been running Hudson's Autobody for 12 years now. Bret's favorite part of the autobody industry is building custom cars specializing in Volkswagens. Bret spends his summers traveling up and down the East Coast with his friends and family to Volkswagen and Audi car shows to show off some of his work.
Bret Hudson joined Stafford in August 2018. Bret grew up in Central Vermont and currently resides in his childhood home with his own family now. He has worked in local autobody shops and discovered his passion for building cars. He opened his own business and has been running Hudson's Autobody for 12 years now. Bret's favorite part of the autobody industry is building custom cars specializing in Volkswagens. Bret spends his summers traveling up and down the East Coast with his friends and family to Volkswagen and Audi car shows to show off some of his work.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Program Advisory Committee
Job Titles:
- Flexible Pathways Coordinator
- Flexible Pathways Coordinator and Independent Studies
Cheryl started her career path in the food service industry after graduating from the Culinary Institute of America and worked in various establishments in New Jersey and New York. She then moved to Vermont and continued working as a chef and baker. She operated her own baking and catering business and worked as an assistant at Stafford Technical Center in the culinary arts program for three years. She then coordinated and taught the American Culinary Federation apprenticeship program in Vermont. Cheryl returned to STC and was the hospitality instructor for thirteen years and earned her Bachelor's degree from Johnson State College and then an MBA from the College of St. Joseph. She then went on to be the culinary specialist and advisor at the Culinary Arts Institute of Montgomery County Community College in Pennsylvania for two years. After this, she returned to Vermont and was the culinary instructor for the Burlington Technical Center for six years. Cheryl then returned to Rutland County and is now at Stafford Technical Center and is happy to be back!
Job Titles:
- Outreach Coordinator
- Outreach Coordinator / Summer and After School Program Coordinator
Cindy Dunigan grew up in Claremont, New Hampshire, and moved to Vermont after getting her Associates's Degree. She finished her Baccalaureate degree at the College of St. Joseph in Rutland (2009) in Organizational Leadership. She has experience as a sign maker, advertising sales representative, and preschool teacher. She also worked as a para-educator for 15 years at Rutland High School. In her role at the high school, Cindy was able to see first-hand the positive effects of Stafford on many students. As a matter of fact, she encouraged her own child to apply to Stafford. He is now pursuing a degree in Chemistry at Castleton University.
In her role as outreach coordinator, Cindy is responsible for marketing Stafford to the community, working with sending schools and the Regional Advisory Board as well as coordinating the summer camps and working with the after-school program, EPIC. Attending community events is also part of the job, so you never know when you might run into her.
When she is not at work Cindy enjoys reading and is an active member of the Union Book Club. When asked what her favorite book is she is apt to answer, "The next one I read." She also enjoys knitting and is often seen wearing hand knit items. If you happen to see her exploring old cemeteries, ask her about her work with the volunteer organization Find A Grave.
Job Titles:
- Cooperative Education Coordinator
Darlene Miglorie has been at the Stafford Technical Center since the fall of 2005. She earned a B.S. in Business Education at Castleton State College. She has a wide variety of experiences in business and education including the roles of financial analyst for General Electric, business teacher at MRUHS, computer science teacher at RHS, and now Cooperative Education Coordinator. In addition, Darlene is married with three children and is an active member of the Rutland City Community.
Job Titles:
- Mathematics Instructor
- Mathematics Teacher
Diane Berman joined Stafford in 2017. She has been teaching middle and high school math for many years in the New York City area. She has a BA in mathematics from Barnard College and an MA in Math Education from New York University. Diane also is an adjunct at Hunter College where she teaches online classes in the Special Education Department. She lives with her husband and two teenage boys. Diane enjoys hiking and exploring the beauty of Vermont.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Program Advisory Committee
Job Titles:
- Member of the Program Advisory Committee
Job Titles:
- Support Staff Member
- Main Office Secretary
Gayle Townsend-Lang joined Stafford in 2022. She came to us from the RIS/RMS campus.
Jack Adams joins STC this year as Curriculum Integrationist, a position designed to help instructors and students demonstrate graduation proficiency standards in their program. He comes to Stafford after 25 years in Rutland City Public Schools as a 6th grade teacher and as Technology Integrationist at Rutland Middle School.
After graduating from Fair Haven UHS and an attempt at college, Jack worked in construction, retail, and has over 30 years of culinary experience in restaurants and resorts. He returned to college as a "non-traditional" student at the age of 29. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Castleton (then "State College") in Social Studies and Geography. He has held teaching endorsements in Elementary Ed., Secondary Social Studies, Culinary Arts, and as Technology Integration Specialist.
Jack lives in Fair Haven with his wife. His four grown children, as well as his two grandchildren, all live in the area. He enjoys outdoor activities like hiking and kayaking. He also enjoys doing projects around his house and can recane a broken chair if you have one.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Program Advisory Committee
- Alderman 's Chevrolet, Rutland
Job Titles:
- Support Staff Member
- Pre - School Assistant Teacher
- School Assistant Teacher
Jane Perry has been at Stafford Technical Center since the fall of 2012. She earned a B.S. Degree in Elementary Education with a minor in Early Education at the College of St. Joseph. She has worked in a variety of roles in Early Education as a teacher and director of the Rutland Recreation Department Preschool, for over 20 years, home visitor and child care provider. She is currently a preschool assistant at the Stafford Children's Center and a child care provider at Vermonster's Child Care Center Baby House.
Jim Woodward has been at the Stafford Technical Center since the fall of 1996. After serving four years in the United States Air Force, he attended Tom P. Haney Vocational Center in Panama City, Florida where he was trained in Marine Mechanics and Automotive Mechanics. He earned a A.A.S. degree in Automotive Technology at Herkimer County Community College, Herkimer, New York. Prior to accepting the teaching position at Stafford Tech, Jim worked as an adjunct instructor of Automotive Technology at Canton College of Technology, Canton, New York. Jim has been an ASE certified Master Technician for the past 20 years.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Program Advisory Committee
Job Titles:
- Member of the Program Advisory Committee
Kate Bosnich joined Stafford in July 2020. Kate Bosnich was the Executive Director of the Tapestry and EPIC Programs, serving students in the Rutland City Public Schools and Greater Rutland County Supervisory Union during the after school and summer hours. Kate has worked in the field of education for thirteen years, prior to her role as Executive Director Kate served as a School Counselor at Rutland High School for ten years. She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology and Business Management from Fairfield University and a Master's Degree in Counseling Psychology from Boston College.
Kate was born and raised in Rutland. She lives in Rutland Town with her husband Tony and their son. Kate enjoys the outdoors and spending time with her family and friends.
Job Titles:
- Career and Technical Special Needs Coordinator
Job Titles:
- Member of the Program Advisory Committee
Job Titles:
- Member of the Program Advisory Committee
Job Titles:
- Director
- Interim Assistant Director for Adult Technical Education
A Rutland City native, Mrs. Connor returns to the area after working in technical education in Springfield, Vermont for the past 15+ years.In the late 90's she moved to the island of Martha's Vineyard for six years where she was a buyer for a food distribution company but soon realized she missed the education world and returned to Springfield. During her time in Springfield, she was a business instructor and assistant director. She holds a B.S. in Business Education from Castleton State College, a M.Ed. in Education from Antioch New England University and has also completed a Principal Leadership Certification program from Antioch New England University.
Mrs. Connor enjoys spending time with her husband, teenage son, and two dogs. She loves to garden, read, and spend time at the beach relaxing or fishing. She is excited to get to know everyone and encourages you to introduce yourself when you see her out and about in the building.
Melissa Patterson has been at the Stafford Technical Center since the fall of 2010. She teaches English and is the faculty adviser to the school's SkillsUSA chapter. She earned a B.A. in Psychology and English and a Masters in Education (Curriculum and Instruction), both at University of Vermont. Throughout the year she coaches skiing for the Pico Ski Club and swimming for the Rutland Swim Team.
Melissa Theis joins STC in August 2020. Melissa grew up over the state border in Granville, N.Y. (Hick's cider donuts, anyone?). She attended SUNY Adirondack and SUNY Plattsburgh for her undergraduate degrees and Sage Graduate School to earn her Master's Degree in School Counseling. Melissa has spent the last eight years working in the Rutland area as a School Counselor and was most recently at the Community College of Vermont. When she is not at work she enjoys being outside with her family.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Program Advisory Committee
Job Titles:
- Member of the Program Advisory Committee
- Alderman 's Toyota, Rutland
Paul Cillo has been an English teacher at Stafford Technical Center since the fall of 1996. He earned a B.S. in Communications from Castleton State College and a certificate in teaching from the University of Vermont.
Before becoming a teacher, Mr. Cillo worked in radio and music retail. He currently owns over 1000 CDs and LPs.
Scott Herdling Joined Stafford in November 2018. Scott was born and raised in Connecticut then in his early 20's moved to Vermont to pursue a career working on automobiles. For 18 years Scott worked on automobiles in the aspect of customizing, mobile electronics, audio & video and detailing. One of Scott's biggest accomplishments was having the show car that he built over 8 years be featured in an international magazine.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Program Advisory Committee
Job Titles:
- Support Staff Member
- Guidance Secretary
Job Titles:
- Member of the Program Advisory Committee
Job Titles:
- Support Staff Member
- Adult Education Secretary
Tracey joined Stafford Tech Center in August 2020 in the Adult Education Secretarial position. In this position, she will be assisting adults who are interested in registering for continuing education courses.
She has been in the Rutland area for over twenty-five years and has worked in several office positions during that time.
Tracey enjoys keeping busy with her granddaughter, walking her dogs, and knitting.