Adrianna Ruggieri receives her successful graduate designation from HCVSD Superintendent, Dr. Todd Bonsall. After graduating from the Hunterdon County Polytech Career and Technical School in 2016, Ruggieri returned in 2022 to begin teaching in the school’s Animal Science program.
Adrianna Ruggieri returned two years ago to her alma mater, Hunterdon County Vocational School District (HCVSD), to teach in the Animal Science program where she was once a student. In just a short time, she has made an impact through her knowledge and enthusiasm, earning her the district’s 2024 successful graduate designation. HCVSD annually recognizes alumni making a difference around Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month in February.
Ruggieri said attending Hunterdon County Polytech Career and Technical School, HCVSD’s shared-time high school, was empowering. She felt supported in her learning and development of both technical and professional skills. She was engaged in the Animal Science curriculum and saw purpose in what she learned, immediately applying content to real-world scenarios. And, of course, she enjoyed spending each day surrounded by animals.
Even after graduation, she continued to reminisce about her experience. So, in fall of 2022, Ruggieri returned to the program as an instructor. She said she continues to learn from her colleagues, guest speakers and veterinarian partners, which makes the role that much more rewarding. One of those colleagues, Taryn Romanczak, was Ruggieri’s Animal Science instructor.
“Taryn did a great job fostering a love for learning in me and giving me skills to succeed both in and out of the classroom,” said Ruggieri. “I now want to do the same for students.”
Ruggieri did not initially set out to become a teacher. She graduated from Polytech in 2016 and headed west to Lamar Community College in Colorado, where she earned an associate degree in horse training and management. Internationally known for its horse programs, the college gave Ruggieri the opportunity to explore a future as a business owner specializing in horse training and boarding.
“I went out there to be on the rodeo team and to pursue what I thought was my dream career working with horses,” Ruggieri said. “I later realized that I wanted to keep my hobby separate from my career.”
As a member of the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA), Ruggieri has two of her own horses and competes in rodeos throughout the Northeast. She also teaches riding lessons to youth who are entering rodeoing.
After moving back from Colorado, Ruggieri, a Stockton native, continued rodeoing as a hobby and attended Northampton Community College to pursue a career as a veterinarian technician. Again, she realized something was missing. This was not her passion. She wanted a broader role working with animals and continued to feel inspired by her Polytech experience.
In the spring of 2019, she transferred to Delaware Valley University to pursue teaching. She graduated in spring of 2021 with a Bachelor of Science in agriculture education and went on to take a temporary teaching position at Upper Bucks County Technical School.
When the Polytech Animal Science program expanded from a shared-time to full-time program, additional teaching positions opened up. It felt like fate. Ruggieri secured one of those positions and found her lifelong career.
“I’m really enjoying helping our students find their own niche in this industry,” Ruggieri said. She also said working with the many animals on the program’s Califon Campus – donkeys, alpacas, goats, sheep and more – is an added bonus.
She also serves as an adviser for the program’s FFA Chapter and is the JV field hockey coach at Voorhees High School.
