The Joint Operating Committee of the Carbon Career & Technical Institute heard from a college trustee and two new CCTI instructors during its monthly meeting Thursday.

David Krause, a member of the Lehigh Carbon Community College Board of Trustees for the Lehighton Area School District, spoke to the group regarding LCCC’s Joint Coordinating Committee.

That panel includes CCTI, LCCC, Lehigh Carbon Technical Institute and Carbon Lehigh Intermediate Unit 21.

“They used to meet four times a year, then twice a year,” Krause told the committee. “Now they meet once per year in March.”

Krause pointed out the importance of participating in that meeting and recommended that CCTI have a representative attend.

Also Thursday, Michael Herishko, a new HVAC instructor at CCTI, greeted the committee and shared information about his education, work experience and his teaching philosophy.

“I found that training offered by manufacturers is the best funded and most respected in the HVAC industry,” Herishko said. “Besides mimicking their PowerPoint with actual HVAC equipment on hand teaching style, I have and am establishing more relationships with manufacturers and vendors to be able to offer top level instruction to our students on-site and at supply houses to acclimate them to how training is offered once they are out in the field.”

He also plans to introduced more multimedia in his classroom, including one of the most popular multimedia HVAC trainers.

Herishko is planning on creating labs with real-world tasks such as full installations and service calls dealing with tasks in ductwork and plumbing. The carpentry division of the school will help in renovating the classroom area to create the labs.

Rhina Rivera, a new science teacher at CCTI, also spoke with the committee, sharing some of her background, including service in the U.S. Navy as an engineer, her education and her teaching philosophy.

“I am driven by progress, passion and lifelong learning,” Rivera said. “CCTI means a great deal to me. My goal as an educator is to make science engaging and meaningful for my students. I live by the teaching motto, ‘If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough,’ a sentiment attributed to Albert Einstein.

“I believe students learn best when they actively explore concepts rather than simply memorize facts. That is why I am committed to designing more laboratory experiments, hands-on investigations and interactive activities. These opportunities will allow students to think critically and apply what they learn to real-world situations.

“Through these experiences, I aim to bolster their confidence, cultivate a passion for scientific discovery, and inspire future leaders in science and health care.”