Pictured are members of the William Floyd High School Business Education Department (front row, l-r): Amy Roethgen, Mary Taylor, Lee Cillo, Jackie Giacalone (chairperson), Kristin Puric, Allison Wiegand and Jeanine Maneri. Pictured back row, l-r: Joseph Esposito, Jesse Keshner, Robert Felicetta (assistant principal), James Rugolo and Christopher Hoagland.
The William Floyd High School Business Education Department has done it again! For the seventh time in the district’s history, it has been named the Business Education & Marketing “Department of the Year” by the Business Teachers Association of New York State, an honor reserved for the best business education departments in New York State. This prestigious award recognizes excellence and celebrates departments that endeavor to improve, promote and develop the next generation of leaders in business education.
“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,” said Kevin M. Coster, Superintendent of Schools, William Floyd School District. “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 William Floyd High School Business Education Department stands out with a rigorous highly-relevant interdisciplinary program of courses designed to challenge and prepare students for their futures in the areas of business education and financial literacy. With 11 teachers and an enrollment of nearly 1,500 students, Business Education Department course offerings fall into one of three pathways including Accounting, Small Business Management and Microsoft Office Specialist. Business Education teachers design innovative projects and assessments to foster student engagement and enthusiasm, providing courses that equip students with essential skills for the real business world.
Jacqueline Giacalone, WFHS Business Education Department chairperson and business teacher, is pictured with the “Department of the Year” award plaque at the Business Teachers Association of New York State awards luncheon.
“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,” said Jacqueline Giacalone, chairperson, Business and Technology Education, and Business Education teacher, William Floyd High School. “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.”
In addition to a vast catalog of course offerings, students have the opportunity to participate in a variety of extracurricular activities including the Business Honor Society, the Business Service Club and the Future Business Leaders of America, the latter of which has resulted in numerous students earning regional and state awards in competitions each school year.
“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,” said Robert Felicetta, assistant principal, William Floyd High School, who also serves as the administrator overseeing the Career and Technical Education (CTE) program, Business, and Technology Education. “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.”
Mr. Felicetta noted that a key strength of the Business Education Department is the collaboration with CTE, which maintains strong partnerships with local industry professionals, colleges and community organizations, providing students with access to internships, job-shadowing experiences and dual-enrollment courses.
“This cross-disciplinary approach ensures that students are exposed to diverse career pathways and acquire critical workplace competencies,” Mr. Felicetta added.
The William Floyd High School Business Education Department has experienced significant growth in CTE Endorsements and SkillsUSA participation over the past few years, including earning the SkillsUSA “Growth Chapter of the Year” for New York State.
William Floyd High School Business Education courses include: Accounting; Business Ownership; College Accounting; College & Career Prep; College Business Law; Business Math; Entertainment Marketing; Everyday Law; Fashion Marketing; International Business; Leadership by Design; Math Applications; Personal Finance; Real Estate Reality; Social Media; Sports Marketing; The Office; Video Game Design; Virtual Enterprise; Wall Street; Wealth Management; and Web Design. CTE-Embedded courses include: Business Ownership Automotive; Business Ownership Barbering; Business Ownership Cosmetology; Business Ownership Hospitality; Career & Financial Management Automotive; Career & Financial Management Hospitality; and Career & Financial Management Medical Assisting. Floyd Academy Business courses include Business Ownership; College & Career Prep; and Marketing 101. The department also provides elective courses at the middle school level.
The William Floyd High School Business Education Department has won the “Department of the Year” seven times now including 2003, 2005, 2010, 2014, 2015, 2022 and 2025.
Members of the William Floyd Business Education Department include Jacqueline Giacalone, chairperson, Allison Wiegand, Amy Roethgen, Christopher Hoagland, James Rugolo, Jeanine Maneri, Kristin Puric, Lee Cillo, Mary Taylor, Jesse Keshner, Joseph Esposito, and Robert Felicetta, assistant principal, William Floyd High School.
