North Carolina Department of Correction
Division of Prisons Educational Services Bulletin

Dr. Jane Young Named "Best in The Business" Jane Young, Director of Educational Services, has been named as one of the "Best in the Business" in the June 2000 special awards issue of Corrections Today. Dr. Young is one of 17 correction employees chosen from correctional jurisdictions across the nation to receive this honor. Selected from thousands of nominations received by the magazine’s screening committee, Dr. Young was chosen in recognition of "outstanding professionalism and dedication" in the performance of her position duties. In remarking on the award, Secretary Theodis Beck stated, "Jane Young’s incredible enthusiasm is obvious to everyone she comes in contact with…Her efforts to help inmates get an education are innumerable. She is definitely deserving of this award."

Dr. Jane Young

Rose True Joins Exceptional Student Program Staff
Rose D. True, former Supervisor of Services for Willie M. and Behaviorally/Emotionally Disabled Students and Behavior Management Specialist for the Henderson (NC) County Schools, began her duties as the new Compliance Specialist for the Exceptional Student Program in Educational Services on June 30, replacing Michael Laughlin. Mrs. True is a two-time graduate of East Carolina University, B.S. in Special Education and M.A. in Education, and holds certification in the areas of Academically Gifted, Learning Disabled, Behaviorally/ Emotionally Disabled, Mentally Disabled, and Mentoring. Prior to her appointment with the Henderson County Schools, where she also served as Teacher of the Academically Gifted and Resource Teacher, she was employed for 21 years as an Exceptional Children’s Teacher by the Roanoke Rapids (NC) Graded School District. Honors she has received include Outstanding Elementary Math Teacher, NC Council of Mathematics, 1993; Teacher of the Year, Roanoke Rapids Graded School District, 1986; and Outstanding Young Educator, Roanoke Rapids Graded School District, 1980. In her new ESP position, she will be responsible for monitoring student records, policies and procedures to ensure compliance with special education regulations and for improving programs and compliance with statues and regulations related to inmates with other special learning needs.

Kaye Gibbons, Acclaimed Author, Addresses Shaw Graduates at NC Correctional Institution for Women Kaye Gibbons, renowned North Carolina novelist, was the guest speaker at the NCCIW/Shaw University Cape Program graduation on June 21 in NCCIW’s Chapel of the Nameless Women. Five women received B.A. degrees and seven received Associate of Arts degrees. Ms. Gibbons, winner of numerous literary awards and a resident of Raleigh, shared her history of personal growth in the face of daunting odds. She inspired the graduates and continuing students in attendance with the strength of her experience in writing Ellen Foster, her first book, assuring them that writing can be a therapeutic means of healing damaged psyches. The author was blunt in her contention that women need to reach beyond a state of dependence on men and to experience success based on their own talents.

Kaye Gibbons

Ex-Offender Speaks at Polk Youth Institution Graduation
Linwood Smith, Assistant Manager at the Food Lion store in Butner, NC, and a former inmate, delivered the commencement address at the GED graduation ceremony conducted at Polk Youth Institution on June 30. In his remarks to the class of 25 graduates, Mr. Smith encouraged the students to take advantage of all opportunities in prison for their personal and educational development. He said that he benefited significantly from his participation in the DART program and that he also managed to save $1200 from his various work assignments, which was helpful to him in transitioning back to the community.

Jobstart/Prison-To-Work Implementation Training, August 9-10
Transition-support teams of eight Programs, Education and other staff members from each of the five institutions participating in the JobStart/Prison-to-Work transition pilot project will participate in a two-day workshop in Raleigh on August 9 and 10 to prepare the teams for implementing this new initiative in inmate transition planning this fall. Leading the workshop will be Tracy McPherson, project consultant, whose presentation of JobStart training materials she has developed will be complemented by presentations from Secretary Theodis Beck, Chief of Program Services Keith Hester; Dr. Jane Young, Director of Educational Services; David Karasow, Case Management Training Manager, and other DOC staff involved in the project, including Community Corrections. A panel of JobLink directors will also present suggestions for how DOP can prepare inmates for accessing the agency’s services following release. The primary focus of the workshop, however, will be on enabling each transition-support team to review and revise its implementation plan and to return to its institution with the information and resources needed to initiate the JobStart program in September. The five pilot sites are: Morrison Youth Institution, NC Correctional Institution for Women, Polk Youth Institution, Sandhills Youth Center, and Western Youth Institution.

NCCIW Initiates "Decisions," First CBT Course Designed for Women
Dr. Ann Mullin, Education Director at NC Correctional Institution for Women, and Nell Best, ABE-level mathematics teacher, recently initiated at NCCIW the first especially designed cognitive behavioral training course for young women, entitled "Decisions." Like "Choices," its male counterpart, the female version also helps students to recognize and begin to challenge the thought and belief patterns that led them to incarceration; however, "Decisions" has been adapted from "Choices" by Dr. Steve Parese, developer of both courses, to focus more specifically on the types of problems and situations encountered by young women. Dr. Mullin reports that the nine students participating in this first offering of "Decisions" are responding with a high level of activity to the three-day-per-week sessions and that she and Ms. Best are pleased with the group’s progress to date, which will be followed by a second course on building cognitive skills and adopting more responsible, proactive behaviors.

Craven Correctional Institution’s Horticulture Program Donates Plants to Local High School
On April 27, the Horticulture Program at Craven Correctional Institution donated over 20 varieties of plants to the Horticulture Program at West Craven High School, replacing plants at the high school damaged during Hurricane Floyd. When Joyce Schoch, Horticulture Instructor at CCI, heard about the loss of plants sustained at the local high school, she voiced her concerns to Assistant Superintendent for Programs Gwen Gordon, who gave her endorsement to doing whatever was possible to help in the program’s recovery. The result was a donation of carefully selected, especially prepared plants valued at over $500 that Ms. Schoch and Julie Blizzard, CCI Programs Assistant II/Education Coordinator, delivered to the high school on behalf of CCI’s horticulture students. As a return gesture of appreciation, the high school presented the unit with three beautiful hanging baskets of lavender, fuchsia, and hearts and flowers.

Librarians Meet for Information Update and Book Repair Workshop
Library and Program Services staff from nine institutions met on June 20 at the Randall Building in Raleigh with Nathaniel Boykin, DOP Library Services Coordinator, to review recent developments affecting library services at the units and to participate in a book repair workshop. Topics discussed during the morning information session included the inter-library loan system, the audiovisual collection, updating reference materials, and library rules and regulations. In the afternoon session, Timothy Conway of Kapco Library Products conducted training on how to repair paperback books quickly and easily, using the company’s self-adhesive book cover which can extend the life of a paperback or magazine for six months or longer. Attending the meeting were Larry Dombus, Craven Correctional Institution; Gloria Farmer, Eastern Correctional Institution; Dianne Richardson, Foothills Correctional Institution; Martha McConnell, Harnett Correctional Institution; James Vaughan, Hyde Correctional Institution; Katina Jordan, Pasquotank Correctional Institution; Emma Brooks, Polk Youth Institution; Lonnie Baldwin, Sandhills Youth Center; and Philip Heavner, Western Youth Institution. Elaine Barnes from DOC Personnel also attended the morning session.
Note: Submit news items for the bulletin's next issue by August 31 to A. Clark, DOP Educational Services, Fax: 919-715-5785 or e-mail: cal15@doc.state.nc.us.

GED Graduate’s Mother Thanks FCI Faculty and Staff
Thomas Fleming, mathematics teacher at Foothills Correctional Institution, received a heartfelt letter of appreciation from the mother of one of the students who received his GED certificate in ceremonies recently held at FCI. In her letter, the mother writes, "I just wanted to let you know how great it is that our son is able to continue his education and how important I think the work you do is. This is not just a "second chance" for these kids; it’s the first major success many of them have ever had, and will go a long way toward building their self-esteem…Please convey our thanks to all the teachers and staff for the very important work they are doing, and let them know that it does make a difference." Mr. Fleming was a member of the committee that organized the ceremony, which the mother described as "very nicely done…much nicer than I had expected."

Dan River Prison Work Farm Holds Commencement with Piedmont CC
On June 16, Dan River Prison Work Farm, in association with Piedmont Community College, held its annual commencement exercises for graduates of programs conducted at the unit by PCC. Dr. Jane Young, Director of Educational Services, delivered the graduation address, while Dr. James Owen, President of Piedmont CC, assisted by Dr. Randy Young, Dean of PCC’s Caswell County Campus, presented certificates and diplomas. Also participating in the program were Wayne Moore, DRPWF Superintendent; Wayne Talbert, Assistant Superintendent for Programs; and Chaplain Stephen O. Greene, among other unit and college staff. The number of graduates completing all program requirements in the past year is indicated in parentheses: Basic Carpentry (32) Electrical Servicing Technology (19), General Education Development (27), Horticulture (51), Human Resource Development (99), Office Systems Technology (25), and Small Engine Repair (19).

Merle Price Retires from Polk Youth Institution
Merle Yvonne Price, a 27-year veteran of the classroom, was honored at a retirement luncheon held July 14 at the Red Lobster Restaurant in Durham, attended by colleagues, family and friends. Ms. Price, who had taught science throughout her career, was presented with a gift from her co-workers at Polk Youth Institution and with a certificate of appreciation from Governor James B. Hunt as presented by PYI Superintendent George Currie. Other staff in attendance included Richard Jones, Assistant Superintendent for Programs; Gloria Upperman, Education Director; John McKoy, Assistant Education Director, and Chaplain Yvonne Beasley. Ruth Duncan also sang two musical selections. Mr. Price’s immediate goal in retirement is to complete her doctoral dissertation with Nova University.

HVAC Graduates at Johnston Correctional Center Earn State Certification
Two graduates of the Air Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Program conducted at Johnston Correction Center by Johnston Community College recently passed levels of the state exam for certifying HVAC technicians. One graduate passed the Type I exam (small appliances) while another passed Types I and II (residential). A. J. Kay, HVAC instructor at the facility for the community college, recently began the arrangement for graduates of the program to be tested, as certification enhances their chances of employment following release.

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