Around the River Bend

January 1st and 2nd: Holiday Break

January 15th: End of 1st Quarter

January 16th: In-service

January 19th: Holiday

January 20th: RAB Meeting

Meet Mazie, a motivated Health Science student from Oxbow who is making the most of her experience at River Bend Career and Technical Center.

She chose the Health Science program with a clear goal in mind. “I really wanted to get my LNA as soon as possible and utilize the Health Science program as much as I could,” Mazie shared. Outside of River Bend, she stays busy as a member of National Honor Society and plays softball for both her high school team and a travel team.

Looking ahead, Mazie hopes to become an Oncology RN, a dream inspired by personal experience. “My Pere inspires me the most. He was the first person I truly saw go through cancer,” she said. “Unfortunately, he passed away, but he is still my biggest inspiration.” She also credits her former catching coach as a major influence, explaining that she inspired her “not only to be good at softball, but also to be a good human being.”

When she’s not in the classroom or on the field, Mazie enjoys spending time with dogs. “I’m definitely a dog person—they can be cuddle buddies, but they can also play. Dogs are very versatile,” she laughed. Spring is her favorite season because it’s softball season, and she loves the color blue. Her favorite foods are pulled pork or brisket.

Her advice for students considering River Bend is enthusiastic and encouraging. “Definitely just try it out. It’s easier to explore opportunities now than when you’re 25,” she said. “All the teachers are so nice and helpful, and I promise you’ll love walking past Leanna’s office and waving to her.”

Mazie sums up her experience simply and sincerely: “Joining the River Bend family was the best decision I’ve made.” She also shared a special shout-out: “I love Carrie—she is the sweetest teacher and human ever, and her son is hilarious!”

We’re proud to feature students like Mazie and are excited to see what the future holds for her.

The Teacher Education program at River Bend Career and Technical Center is for students interested in working with children or pursuing careers in education and social services. Students learn about child development, psychology, communication, and how families and communities influence children.

Students may earn industry-recognized credentials such as the Vermont Orientation Training certificate, required for many childcare and afterschool positions, and can prepare for the ParaPro certification. The program also offers college credit through courses including Introduction to Psychology, Child Development, Fostering Creative Learning, and Introduction to Communications.

Career pathways connected to the program include early childhood through high school teaching, special education, school counseling, social work, speech and language pathology, occupational therapy, child development, and paraeducation.

Currently, students are finishing their Child Development coursework, studying developmental milestones from birth through adulthood. Each Friday, they gain hands-on experience at Bradford Elementary School, exploring different grade levels and teaching environments.

Students say the experience is eye-opening and rewarding. Emma shared that working at Bradford Elementary has helped her explore whether teaching is the right path for her, while Cooper noted that seeing school from a new perspective and working with students has been a “really cool opportunity.”

The Teacher Education program helps students explore careers, earn credentials, and gain real-world experience in supportive learning environments.

Ever since I can remember, I have always wanted to be a teacher. Not counting all the years I ran a school or a ballet school in my playroom for my neighbors and family, I have been teaching for 23 years. When I started college at Salem State University right out of high school, I was an education major but had not decided what age group or content area I wanted to focus on. After completing classroom observations and having amazing experiences, I decided to focus on middle school and high school mathematics. My teaching career started at an inner-city vocational high school in Massachusetts. A few years later, In 2006, I moved to Vermont and started teaching math at Oxbow HS. Eventually, I became the ninth-grade math teacher and core team member. My years at OHS included many years of Freshmen Academy projects, interdisciplinary learning and teaching and some great teaching memories. I love creating new learning opportunities for students and when the Teacher Education Position opened up, I saw it as a great opportunity to share and teach about my love of teaching and learning and to combine all my experiences from the HS and MS school classroom as well as my work with children of all ages in my ballet classes. Since 2019, I have been working as the Teacher Education instructor, math integrationist and curriculum coordinator. At RBCTC, I have the opportunity to work with kids across all program whether it be on math or community service projects such as Operation Santa Claus, Winter Activities Program at BES or whatever pops up! Currently I have a Bachelor of Science in Math & Education, a Master's degree in Math & Education, and numerous courses, because some days I still do not know what I want to be when I grow up!

Outside of school, I run a small ballet school and enjoy spending time with my family skiing, traveling, and seeing as many live music events as possible!

Aylhea LaBadie, a senior from Thetford Academy and a student in River Bend Career and Technical Center’s Heavy Equipment program, is gaining valuable real-world experience through her internship with the Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTRANS).

Aylhea began working with VTRANS in the summer of 2025 and has continued throughout the school year, successfully balancing the demands of her senior year with hands-on work in the field. During her internship, she has been actively involved in all aspects of maintenance services, building practical skills that directly align with her career goals.

Through her time at VTRANS, Aylhea has learned a wide range of skills, from paving roads to plowing snow and performing routine maintenance. Looking ahead, plans are in place to expand her experience even further by involving her with the drill crew and providing opportunities to observe bridge inspection engineers at work.

Reflecting on her experience, Aylhea shared, “Within my last six months at VTRANS, it has been an amazing experience. I have learned a wide variety of skills from paving to plowing and everything in between. My crew has done everything in their power to assure I feel comfortable and included. I can’t wait to see what the future holds in the heavy equipment industry.”

Doug Bolles, Orange Garage Manager, praised Aylhea’s strong work ethic and positive attitude. He noted that she has fit in well with the crew, responds well to feedback, and consistently demonstrates a willingness to learn.

The partnership between the VTRANS Internship Program and River Bend’s Heavy Equipment program continues to provide students with meaningful, career-connected learning opportunities. With the support of the Agency of Transportation, students like Aylhea are gaining a strong head start toward successful careers in the skilled trades.

Aylhea’s experience highlights the power of Career and Technical Education to connect students with industry partners and prepare them for the workforce through authentic, hands-on learning.