BILLERICA, MA — Shawsheen Valley Regional Technical High School invites members of the community, especially families with middle school aged children now considering high school choices, to visit the school during its annual Community Open House on Sunday, November 6 from 2pm to 4pm.
Shawsheen faculty members and students will offer a wide variety of demonstrations in the vocational-technical shops. Visitors can hear a number of engaging presentations designed to help prospective families explore and appreciate the distinctive features of what is generally regarded as one of the finest technical high schools in the Commonwealth.
“As a career vocational-technical education school, Shawsheen will give your child options–students will leave with a viable skill that they can apply toward their future careers or higher education. We consistently model and reinforce our mission by providing a positive learning experience in a safe educational environment, emphasizing the value of a strong work-ethic and preparing students for adult life in a competitive world economy,” said Jobee O’Sullivan, the Director of Guidance and Health Services.
Shawsheen Tech, simply referred to by the alumni and local residents as the “Tech,” is the independent regional vocational and technical high school serving families from Bedford, Billerica, Burlington, Tewksbury and Wilmington.
For 50 years, the Tech has been preparing students for the world of work and academic achievement beyond high school. Yet, stereotypes and misconceptions about vocational education still linger in the public consciousness.
Shawsheen Tech sought out a few parents of current and former Shawsheen students, asking them to offer their perspective on the value of a Shawsheen education. They spoke with Lynne Troisi, Sandy Companeschi, and Debra Farraher — parents of current students with siblings who also graduated from Shawsheen Tech.
Shawsheen has always been the school of choice for the Troisi family of Billerica with both Matthew and Ashlyn in the eleventh grade studying Drafting and Health Assisting respectively. Two siblings, Britney and Nick were members of the class of 2012, both graduating from the Health Assisting program. Lynne Troisi, the proud mother of these Shawsheen students, said, “We heard a lot of great things about the school especially the opportunity to learn a trade and attend college. And now Nick is attending UMass Lowell studying Clinical Lab Science and Brittany is at Rivier University in Nashua studying Nursing.”
Reflecting on her first Shawsheen Open House, Troisi said that when she first started to consider Shawsheen for her kids she was impressed by the competitiveness of the admissions process.
“We thought, if so many people want to send their kids there it must be a great school. What I noticed after Ashlyn and Matt started at the Tech is how often they came home from school happy and their academic achievement improved from earlier grades. To other parents I would say that the Tech offers many pathways for students to achieve including academics, a variety of trades and technical fields, a great sports program, and a diverse range of extracurricular activities including SkillsUSA,” Troisi said.
The Companeschi family from Wilmington shares an equally enthusiastic history with Shawsheen. According to Sandy Companeschi, three of her sons, Patrick Companeschi (2005), Mathew (2008) and Andrew (2010) graduated from the Tech, and her fourth son Mark is in the 11th grade studying Carpentry.
Companeschi said that today Patrick is a medical flight nurse at Duke University Hospital and is currently working towards his Master’s degree in Nursing. Mathew joined the Air Force out of high school and upon completing his tour of duty is studying Fire Science with hopes of becoming a firefighter perhaps somewhere out west. Andrew, a graduate of the Plumbing program, is now an athletic trainer and is completing his Master’s degree in Exercise Physiology at Florida International University.
“I remember attending our first Open House with Patrick our oldest and thinking that Shawsheen was just so much more advanced than other schools in the area,” she said. “From the beginning, the most impressive part of Shawsheen was the faculty and support staff. Shawsheen Tech is one big family and the teachers truly care about their students. Our sons all played sports and the coaches are great but the staff supports all student activities; in particular, the SkillsUSA program offers a great opportunity for students to achieve and be recognized. To new parents, I would say you have to know your child and know what the school has to offer. It’s about the opportunities this school offers your child.’’
A third Shawsheen parent, Debra Farraher from Tewksbury, described the success her four children experienced at Shawsheen. Her son Shaun (2001) graduated from the Health Program, attended Salem State University, an international medical school, and is now a practicing physician in the Lowell area. Three daughters, Kelsey (2013), Jacqueline (2015), and Michelle (2016) all graduated and Debra was very proud to point out that Kelsey learned Heating-Ventilation-Air Conditioning-Refrigeration while at Shawsheen and is now a union pipe fitter.
With equal pride Farraher went on to report that daughters Jacqueline and Michelle each studied in the Electrical shop, thus challenging gender stereotypes in the construction trades; Jacqueline is now a union electrician and Michelle is working for a private electrical contractor.
Looking ahead to those who will be attending this year’s Open House, Farraher said, “I remember going to our first Open House and honestly my husband believed some of the old myths about the vocational school, but once we went and saw what the school had to offer his doubts disappeared. My experience in talking with people about the Tech is that they do not realize the opportunity that Shawsheen offers. The opportunities are huge.”
These testimonials exemplify the positive experiences of a number of recent graduates and current students, said Timothy Broadrick, Superintendent-Director.
“It is striking just how many of the Shawsheen graduates have broken the traditional stereotype of the vocational high school student,” he said. “It really shows that the old model doesn’t exist anymore. College degrees and even professional degrees are now commonplace amongst the graduates of the states’ vocational and technical high schools. And, we still have successful graduates working successfully with the latest technologies in all the traditional trades.”
“These schools pride themselves on preparing young people for the world of work and citizenship. As our economy has changed, the Commonwealth’s technical high schools, led by Shawsheen Tech, are evolving to keep pace while staying true to the core mission.”
(NOTE: The above press release is from the Shawsheen Tech.)
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