BFUHS’s Mark Gebo Named P3 Partner of the Year
From day one, Bellows Falls Union High School Counselor Mark Gebo, has stood out as an exceptional P3 partner. As a member of the P3 Advisory Board for the past five years, he has helped shape the program into a successful, integral part of BFUHS and all Windham County high school offerings. This year, he received the first-ever BDCC P3 Partner of the Year Award, alongside his colleague Terry Davison-Berger of Leland & Gray High School.
Mark has worked with BDCC’s P3 Program Manger Christy Betit to provide students with career education opportunities like the annual Sophomore Summit. He’s helped co-facilitate hundreds of resume writing workshops for student PLPs, supported Career Spotlight speaker panels to integrate career topics into core content areas, co-chaperoned worksite tours (where some students even received job offers on the spot!). Most recently, Mark worked with P3 and BF Trades to organize a very successful Career Fair attended by 20+ quality businesses and serving approximately 140 students.
“Mark is dedicated to student success. He’s creative, inspiring, and he has a terrific sense of humor,” said P3 Program Manger Christy Betit. “His willingness to collaborate, share his incredible expertise, and identify areas where P3 can fill gaps has been invaluable. I can’t imagine doing this work without him.”
Mark’s support of the Pipelines and Pathways Program is just part of what he does to contribute to his school, the community and the county at large. As School Counselor, he has provided unwavering social/emotional learning support for all students, helped some navigate the college application process, and worked closely with those students pursuing credentials of value, direct to work and other flexible pathways to postsecondary success. He understands the urgent need for more work-based learning opportunities for all students and provides the support needed to make those opportunities happen.
“Mark is a go-getter and a doer. He says what he means and means what he says. This supports all students and families well,” said Principal John Broadley.
“Mark is extremely dedicated and worked tirelessly to create a strong Work Based Learning program that benefits and has benefited many students at BFUHS,” said School Counselor Andrea Carlson.
“Mark is a fierce advocate for our students and understands the importance of alternate pathways towards graduation. His dedication and support of our students and work-based learning is truly appreciated,” said Vice Principal Sean Murphy.
“Mark’s attention to detail combined with his deep technical knowledge in work-based learning, are not the kind of personality traits that you would expect to find combined with his superior interpersonal/soft skills. However, it is this unique combination which has made him such an effective partner for Bellows Falls Trades,” said Michael Stack, BF Trades Director.
“Mark Gebo goes above and beyond to connect students with career education opportunities within their realm of interests. He is responsive, effective, professional, and knowledgeable about the opportunities available to our students. His willingness to open new doors for our students is off the charts. If there is an obstacle to setting up an experience for a student, he will do his very best to remove the obstacle in an effort to provide the student with the best experience possible. Mark is very passionate about helping students find their way through the overwhelming reality of ‘life after high school,'” said School Counselor, Tina Mattison.
On the horizon, Mark will work with P3 to develop and implement the BDCC Teacher Training Series that will help core content teachers learn more techniques for integrating career education content into their everyday classrooms. He’ll also work to help implement the P3 FlexPath 16-module course to help students develop basic employability and 21st Century soft skills, and to experience job shadowing, informational interviews, and mentorship with high-wage/high-growth employers. Christy and the BDCC Team look forward to another successful year of collaboration with the BFUHS guidance team, administration, and faculty starting this fall.
About Pipelines & Pathways
BDCC’s Pipelines and Pathways Program (P3) provides employment oriented career-planning for the region’s high school students. It brings training in 21st Century skills, work-based learning, and personal learning plan (PLP) engagement opportunities to all four public high schools in Windham County. The program assists in developing workforce-oriented curricula, expanding classroom relationships, and growing work-based learning through opportunities with local employers. It also supports teachers working face to face with students to implement personal learning plans and seize the myriad opportunities presented by Vermont’s Flexible Pathways Initiative under Act 77. Pipelines & Pathways is a BDCC Workforce Center of Excellence program based on SeVEDS strategies to increase the size and quality of the workforce. For more information please visit https://brattleborodevelopment.com/workforce/
Funding for P3 is provided by the McClure Foundation, Vermont Training Program, Vermont Community Foundation, the Windham County Economic Development Program, The Thomas Thompson Trust, the George W. Mergens Foundation, People’s United Bank, Tom Smith – Omega Optical, and Chroma Technology in Bellows Falls.
