The William Floyd High School Business Education Department has been recognized as the Business Education & Marketing “Department of the Year” by the Business Teachers Association of New York State for the seventh time. This award highlights departments in New York that demonstrate excellence and work to improve, promote, and develop business education for students.
Kevin M. Coster, Superintendent of Schools at William Floyd School District, commented on the achievement: “On behalf of the William Floyd School District, I am pleased to congratulate the Business Education Department on earning their seventh ‘Department of the Year’ award, a well-deserved feat for an amazing group of educators who work hard daily to provide students with all that they need to be career and college ready post-graduation. The skills that students are learning in Business Education and CTE courses are extremely valuable and will serve them well throughout their lives, no matter their future career path.”
The department offers a program with three main pathways: Accounting, Small Business Management, and Microsoft Office Specialist. It consists of 11 teachers serving nearly 1,500 students. Courses are designed to prepare students for real-world business situations through innovative projects and assessments.
Jacqueline Giacalone, chairperson of the department and business teacher at William Floyd High School, accepted the award at a recent luncheon. She said: “Earning the New York State Business Department of the Year Award is a tremendous honor that recognizes the dedication, innovation, and collaborative spirit of our entire department. As chairperson, I am incredibly proud of our team’s commitment to excellence in business education and to providing students with meaningful, real-world learning experiences that prepare them for success beyond the classroom.”
Students have access not only to academic courses but also extracurricular activities such as the Business Honor Society, Business Service Club, and Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA). Participation in FBLA has led many students to earn regional and state awards each year.
Robert Felicetta, assistant principal at William Floyd High School who oversees Career and Technical Education (CTE), described how these programs benefit students: “The Business Department at William Floyd High School has redefined the standards of college and career readiness by offering a comprehensive, real-world curriculum that equips students with both foundational knowledge and practical skills. Through strategic integration of entrepreneurship, financial literacy, marketing, and digital technology, students are prepared not only for post-secondary education but also for immediate entry into the modern workforce.”
Felicetta also noted collaboration between business education teachers and CTE staff provides connections with local industry professionals as well as colleges. These partnerships give students opportunities for internships, job-shadowing experiences, dual-enrollment courses with colleges or universities.
“This cross-disciplinary approach ensures that students are exposed to diverse career pathways and acquire critical workplace competencies,” Mr. Felicetta added.
In recent years there has been growth in student participation in CTE Endorsements as well as SkillsUSA competitions; this includes winning SkillsUSA’s “Growth Chapter of the Year” award for New York State.
Course offerings include subjects such as Accounting; College & Career Prep; Entertainment Marketing; Fashion Marketing; International Business; Leadership by Design; Personal Finance; Real Estate Reality; Social Media; Sports Marketing; Video Game Design; Virtual Enterprise; Wall Street; Wealth Management; Web Design among others. There are also CTE-embedded options like Automotive or Hospitality management tracks.
The department previously won this recognition in 2003, 2005, 2010, 2014, 2015, 2022 before this latest honor in 2025.
Current members include Jacqueline Giacalone (chairperson), Allison Wiegand, Amy Roethgen, Christopher Hoagland, James Rugolo, Jeanine Maneri, Kristin Puric, Lee Cillo, Mary Taylor Jesse Keshner Joseph Esposito along with Robert Felicetta (assistant principal).