The West Seneca Central School District serves a diverse population of students. WBFO's senior reporter Eileen Buckley says one of the high school teachers says he helps students strive for success.
"What works here in West Seneca?", asked Buckley. "We all work and that's what made a defense," replied Joe Cantafio, high school Social Studies teacher. He also serves as President of the West Seneca Teachers Association.
Cantafio praises both Schools Superintendent Mark Crawford and the school board for supporting what teachers are accomplishing in their classrooms.
"We're very, very fortunate to have a superintendent and school board that always put students first," remarked Cantafio.
The District is actually one of the largest in the western New York region. It reaches the towns of not only West Seneca, but Cheektowaga, Orchard Park and Hamburg.
"We have a very unique socioeconomics situation. where we have students from very low and very high. Being a first ring suburb we have students from Orchard Park and students from the city," said Cantafio.
Parents and students have been vocal against state assessments having some of the highest opt out rates in the state. Cantafio upholds those efforts as teachers fight for changes to Common Core and ties to teacher evaluations. Cantafio takes great pride in his teaching. Earlier this year the West Seneca Chamber of Commerce named 2016 Educator of the Year.
