The Junior Career and Tech program (JCAT) at DeWitt
Middle School is celebrating 17 years of bringing trade
education to their middle school students! Over the
years, hundreds of 8th graders have walked across the
street to Career and Tech, located within TST BOCES.
Here, they get first hand experience learning different
skills in Cosmetology, Welding, Auto Body, and Auto
Tech programs. This is the future of learning for students
as they discover alternative career paths and dive into
enriching academics outside of the normal classroom.
David Buchner, JCAT Coordinator and Dewitt Middle
School Technology Teacher, gives insight on how the
whole program got started. “We began 17 years ago, when
one of my middle schoolers and I were trying to build a
go-cart. We went over to Career and Tech needing help
with welding. Once that was done, we needed to get it
painted and went next door to the Auto Body classroom
with Gary Kaschak. Then four more kids started getting
interested and then even more started asking questions
about trades.” Buchner has seen the positive outcomes
from JCAT day in and day out. He says not only has this
program been beneficial for students’ self esteem and
building their work ethic, but even Career and Tech high
school students get a lot out of it. “Randy Jackson, the
welding teacher, came up with a model that we enjoy,”
Buchner shared, “Our 8th graders are paired up with a
senior during morning classes to walk them through skills
and lessons. Randy has noticed that seniors are more
likely to keep coming to class because they enjoy working
with our middle schoolers.”
Buchner, a Trumansburg native and tradesman himself,
graduated from Career and Tech in 1982. Here, he found
a wonderful community that understood an alternative
pathway to have a successful and fulfilling career
immediately upon high school graduation. He learned
to build houses through developing a background in
electrical, HVAC, plumbing, and construction. This has
allowed him to pay off his college education. In Buchner’s
opinion, it is a no-brainer for students to take advantage
of these trade programs, especially as college tuition
continues to rise. “Be a renaissance person, why not have
a skill or craft you work on and go to college at the same
time?” He believes that having an open mind and support
from teachers has a significant impact on students as they
discuss their futures. “Having this message to connect
students with trades has always come down to teachers
supporting this program. We need to have the mindset to
say everyone can come to TST BOCES. I think everyone
should have a trade, especially in today’s market.”
This June, Buchner will be retiring from his position at
Dewitt Middle School after 31 years of serving the Ithaca
City School District and 35 years working in education
overall. His successor will be continuing JCAT for the
years to come. Buchner has been a key player in the
success of Career and Tech. TST BOCES thanks him for
his impact, dedication, compassion for his students, and
having a vision for others to thrive in a trade environment.
“Throughout the years there have been a number of kids
who come back and show me what they did,” he says,
“They are extraordinarily proud of it. Welding, a brake
job on a car, or hairstyles they worked on. It feels good
paying it forward from being a student in these classes to
seeing my students now enjoy these trades in 2023. Some
students will say I did not know school could be this fun. I
did not know this was possible!“
Want to see how your child can get involved? Our
programs at Career and Tech open students up to
a world of possibilities through engaging classes,
internships, certifications, professional development and
guiding our students into their true passions! For more
information on Career and Technical programs, please
visit tstboces.org/cte.