Walter Becker retires as director of Northern Tier Career Center

BY JAMES LOEWENSTEIN (STAFF WRITER)
Published: March 10, 2010

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NORTH TOWANDA TOWNSHIP - Walter Becker is retiring from his position as the director of the Northern Tier Career Center, a job he has had since the early 1990s.

"I think he was really good for the students," said retired Canton Area School District Superintendent Richard Neff, who had served as the superintendent-of-record at the school in the past. "He made sure the shops (at the school) were current. He made sure the students would be able to get jobs" when they graduated, he said.

The Northern Tier Career Center recently underwent a construction project that included a complete renovation of the school, as well as an expansion of the school, Neff said.

"He was instrumental in seeing that was done," Neff said. That project was "good for the county," he said.

"He did a really good job," Neff said. "He'll be hard to replace."

The Northern Tier Career Center is a vo-tech school in North Towanda Township which serves students from eight school districts in Bradford and Sullivan counties, and which has 360 high school students and over 50 adult students. The adult students are mainly in the school's welding and practical nursing programs.

At its Feb. 25 meeting, the school's Joint Operating Committee accepted Becker's retirement, which is effective May 7, said Marty Kane, who has been appointed acting director of the school until July 1, 2010.

Becker is on a sabbatical until May 7, Kane said.

The Joint Operating Committee is conducting a statewide search for a new director of the school, who would begin serving on July 1, Kane said.

The committee will conduct interviews of the candidates and select the next director, Kane said.

Before becoming director of the Northern Tier Career Center in 1993, Becker had served a number of years at the school as assistant director and coop coordinator.

Becker "was here for the students," said the school secretary, Lorraine Parks. "That makes a big difference. He cared about the students. He would go into the shops and talk with the kids, and see what they were working on."

Kane has served since 2007 as the student facilitator at the Northern Tier Career Center, which is an administrative position. As student facilitator, Kane coordinated instructional support, coordinating transition services, and performed other duties.

Becker declined to comment for this story.

James Loewenstein can be reached at (570) 265-1633; or e-mail: jloewenstein@thedailyreview.com.

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10 posted comments

Mr. Kane is acting OK
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should know,  05/17/10 8:56
What? No retirement party with a 'roast'?? Oh well.
Congratulations and thanks for your time and dedication, Walt!
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Mr. Y,  03/17/10 11:10
Mr. Becker is to be congratulated for 22 years of dedicated service to the Northern Tier Career Center. He should also be congratulated for hiring Mr. Kane who has proven to be an excellent student facilitator and an able acting director. Job well done, Mr. Becker!
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Thankful,  03/15/10 10:33
This program will be up & running in full force in Sept. with students & adults mixed. They will have a nice shop to walk into where as the 1st class has to wait until April...at the latest to benefit from the program & money invested. The 1st class should have been postponed until the shop was fully finished!
Mr. Kane's hands are tied & Ms. Robbins is doing a fine job under the cercumatances.
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just seeing,  03/13/10 6:53
Why is there such negativity? This article is meant to pay tribute to a man who dedicated 22 years to career and technical education at the Northern Tier Career Center.
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confused,  03/12/10 10:35
Yes I thought the welding program was Kane's baby. Ms. Michele Robbins and Mr. Marty Kane are doing a terrific job with the welding program.
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think i know,  03/12/10 9:41
Isn't the welding program Mr. Kanes Baby???
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should know,  03/11/10 8:27
I wish Mr.Becker could have stayed to see the completion of the newest class, welding get off the ground. It is still in it's infancy & will not be completed until who knows when. Yet, they started the first class in Jan. and the students are learning on the the skin of their pants, because the project is not finished. What they should have done was waited until the welding shop was up & running before starting the first class...why was this not done?
money, time...tax payers $$ NOT at work here!
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in the know,  03/10/10 3:52
Student facilitators in other Career and Technical Schools are special education certified and considered teachers. With only special education experience and no career and technical teaching experience how is Kane qualified to be a director, even if he is acting until July 1?
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SHOULD KNOW,  03/10/10 11:28
Kane has served since 2007 as the student facilitator at the Northern Tier Career Center, which is an administrative position.IS IT REALLY; WE THOUGHT IT WAS A TEACHING POSITION REQUIRING TEACHING CERTIFICATION
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SHOULD KNOW,  03/10/10 7:03