William Floyd Technology Teachers Make Face Shields For Hospitals

MASTI BEACH, NY — William Floyd High School technology teachers have teamed up to help fulfill a critical need — creating face shields for healthcare workers on the front lines at Long Island Community Hospital in Brookhaven.

The educators are making 500 face shields with the goal of having them ready by early next week.

William Floyd High School technology teachers Joseph Brand and Joseph Carpinone, along with assistant principal Robert Felicetta and Jackie Giacalone, lead teacher for business, family and consumer sciences, and technology — and a WFHS grad — have been working hard on the face shields.

When Suffolk County Executive Steven Bellone’s office put the word out for the need for PPEs, William Floyd technology teachers answered the call. Using their two full spectrum laser cutters, they have been printing about 15 to 20 masks per hour and will continue over the next few days to meet their goal.

“We know that this is not a fight that can be won by one entity alone. It takes an entire community to be able to defeat this virus,” said Bellone. “The example that these [William Floyd] teachers are setting for their students, their colleagues, and the rest of our country is nothing short of extraordinary. We are immensely thankful for their contributions, and it is actions like these that will allow us to prevail.”

The original design of the face shield was provided by RMS Laser Group in El Cajon, CA, a connection made by Carpinone, a release said. The technology teachers then took the design, which was provided in a PDF format, converted it, and tweaked it in the AutoCAD program in order to fit with the material available, the release said.

The effort has been made possible through a donation from the William Floyd United Teachers and materials purchased at cost from Fine Line Routing in Mastic; the teachers have also been using supplies already on hand in their classrooms, the district said.

“I thank Mr. Bellone and his team for all of their efforts in fighting this pandemic right here in Suffolk County,” said Kevin Coster, superintendent of schools, William Floyd School District. “I’m grateful to our healthcare and frontline workers and proud that our school community is able to assist them in a tangible way.”