Diane Chaleff has busy days as a Google enterprise and productivity software employee, but she consistently finds time for students in the Bergen County Academies. Her dedication and commitment to helping students prepare for their futures earned her the title of 2023 Business Partner of the Year from Bergen County Technical Schools.
Chaleff first presented to Academy of Technology and Computer Science classes three years ago. Her involvement has since grown, and she now assists with the student capstone teams. This year, Chaleff also started working with the Academy of Business and Finance students, leading presentations for the marketing and management class.
For the capstone projects, computer science seniors find an organization or business in need of programming solutions and brainstorm ways certain web-based applications can address the issues. Students then go through a project management process to build, test and refine their solutions.
“Working with the student teams has been a really rewarding experience,” said Chaleff. “It is exciting to hear their raw ideas on solutions and help them learn how to leverage that creative energy in a way that achieves concrete outcomes towards a collaborative goal.”
Chaleff and her colleagues provide critical feedback, including candidly critiquing how well the students are following sound project management principles and technical aspects, such as the user interface. This project culminates in the spring when the student teams present their solutions alongside their industry consultant.
“Diane’s work with our school is a great example of what can be accomplished when teachers and industry representatives partner in the act of teaching,” said Rich Panicucci, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction. “The teacher’s innovative design of an authentic challenge, coupled with the dynamic interactions between students and industry experts using a consultant model, harnesses the collective strengths of all parties to deliver maximum benefit to our students.”
