Mr. Richard Waskiewicz joined the OHM BOCES Career and Technical Education Center as a Construction Trades teacher in 2003. After 18 years working as a carpenter/cabinetmaker, he decided to pursue a career in teaching his craft.

Prior to joining BOCES, Mr. Waskiewicz was employed in commercial, residential and custom executive home building and worked as a carpentry teacher/teaching assistant at the Madison-Oneida BOCES. During his tenure in the construction field, he worked in numerous specialty areas including building layout, cabinetmaking, concrete pouring and forming, doors, excavation, exterior siding, fine woodworking, flooring, insulation, roofing material installation, roof framing, walls and windows. Mr. Waskiewicz is an NYS-certified career and technical education carpentry teacher and was recognized as a recipient of the 2006 Walmart Teacher of the Year award, 2006 Excellence in Teaching Award sponsored by Utica College and 2007 -2008 WFXV Educator of Week.

Mr. Waskiewicz started in the construction field in the ninth grade when his industrial arts teacher saw potential in his determination to produce quality work with a high level of attention to detail. He worked nights, weekends and holiday breaks as a helper and worked his way up to shop supervisor. After graduating from Whitesboro Senior High School, Mr. Waskiewicz earned his Associate of Science in building construction technology from Herkimer County Community College and after several years of working in the field went on to complete vocational and technical education certification at SUNY Oswego.

Mr. Waskiewicz loves to watch the comradery his students build from first-year strangers to lifelong friends by the end of their senior year. He is passionate about building trades and inspires his students to find their direction through listening, caring, building relationships and becoming proficient in a trade.

In his free time, Mr. Waskiewicz volunteers with the Sons of the American Legion and enjoys hunting, fishing, camping, making maple syrup, growing vegetables and woodworking.

“The more you learn, the more you earn!”