The ECHO, Volume 92, Number 10, November 2020 Page: COVER SHEET

                                
John Walter Flagg—ECHO Staff
L
WORKFORCE continued on pg. 4 >
both a role model and “resource broker”
to clients as they navigate their personal
recovery journey and reentry path.
Peer support specialists
work for organizations
such as;
tions may vary within the context of the
population they are serving, but gener-
ally include identifying their clients’
needs and developing a personalized
action plan for meeting those needs.
This involves monitoring and tracking
their clients’ progress, networking and
developing relationships with commu-
nity resources, and connecting their
clients to social programs that spe-
cialize in their clients’ needs to provide
a comprehensive continuum of care.
A peer support specialist that offers
re-entry assistance works closely with
their clients to assist them in activities
that help them transition into society
following release from incarceration.
► Hospitals and outpatient programs
► Homeless shelters
► Rehabilitation and wellness centers
► Specialized Advocacy Groups:
v'Veterans
^LGBTQ+
At-Risk Youth
Domestic Violence
Human Trafficking
A peer support specialist’s job func-
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' ' / WIG..- » A O
XTational Apprenticeship
xN Week takes place this
month (Nov;
--COVID-19’s--
not-so-new normal
'__________________________________________________,__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
to show employers their value
and commitment to the trade
area — which can help accelerate
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A there are more than naked eve COVTD-10 anneal
X X40 million active as a shadowy mass of mescap-
cases of coronavirus world- able destruction. Such a sight
wide. In its sheer scope alone, is a potential breeding ground
’I™
oasses any national crisis we of critical thought however
samsas
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of Hollv/ood apocalyptic current circ-im=tancJs is to
J ™lXh        c.rcani tances to
atmosphere ai med only u ith analyze then: in terms of these
speculation, face masks, hand individual contexts.
sanitizer, and plain old soap COVID continued on pg. to >
and practical aspects of the
occupation. Upon satisfactory
completion cf an apprentice-
ship program, the participant
is awarded a nationally-recog-
nized Certificate of Completion
of Apprenticeship. This
opportunity to earn employ-
ment credentials is available
to residents of TDCJ. Along
with TDCJ, WSD’s partners
include industry leaders and
representatives, and Texas
Workforce Development Board
members across the state.
APPRENTICESHIP
continued on page 4 >
4
their hiring potential,” said WSD
Workforce Administrator Char-
lene Moriarty: She said there are
currently 228 acti * participants
in the program.
What is apprenticeship?
An apprenticeship is a pro-
gram registered with the
United States Department
of Labor and designed to
prepare individuals for occu-
pations in skilled trades
and crafts. Apprenticeships
offer a combination of rig-
orous and relevant on-the-job
learning with related tech-
nical instruction on theoretical
__
Windham, TDCJ support resident career success
through partnered apprenticeship programs
Texas Workforce Solutions offers
Peer Support training opportunity
Information provided by TDCJ’s
Rehabilitation Programs Division
V    EER SUPPORT SERVICES ARE EMERGING
J as a vital tool in the recovery and
I ' reentry fields and the need for
.A. certified peer support specialists
is expanding.
A peer support specialist is a person
who has lived through or experienced a
mental health condition, a substance use
issue, incarceration, or a combination
of these challenges. Their first-hand
involvement and successful recovery give
them knowledge and understanding that
standard professional training cannot
duplicate. In addition to their own life
experience, a certified peer specialist has
und^Tgone formal training to help them
bettef use their recovery story to serve as
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A Diesel Mechanic apprentice uses modern diagnostic software
in the repair of heavy equipment.
programs offer a promising
transition from prison to the
8-14), giving freeworld—ultimately aligning
businesses, communities and job skills development with
educators the opportunity to viable employment.
showcase apprenticeship pro- “Our apprenticeship program
grams while providing valuable has been in effect thanks to
information to career seekers. WSD and TDCJ since 1977. The
Windham School District whole point of apprenticeship
(WSD) and the Texas Depart- programs is for residents in the
ment of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) TDCJ who have earned indus-
are part of this effort. They main- try-recognized certifications and
tain a partnership that provides on-the-job learning experience
job experience and valuable
training for incarcerated indi-
viduals. These Apprenticeship
to
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r m
Colonists
overcome
New World
hardships
Monument to our Forefathers
Plymouth, Mass.
passionate Protestants railing
against the strictures of the
established Anglican Church
and the monarchy in England.
There were also soldiers and
mercenaries, too. They were all
weather-beaten and severely
debilitated, yet an aura of
opti mism permeated the group.
However, their buoyancy was
soon to be replaced by sinking
feelings of dread.
COLONIAL AMERICA
continued on pg. 8 >
John Walter Flagg
ECHO Staff
T T WAS THE YEAR 1620.
After nine arduous weeks
JL at sea, the ship Mayflower
dropped anchor    near
present-day Cape Cod. Aboard
were 101 passengers. Also
included, but not customarily
accounted for, were close
to 30 crewmembers. Many
passengers were Pilgrims,
lI.
' 1 ''
1
Distributed Free to those within TDCJ
VOL. 92, NO. 10, NOVEMBER 2020
Published Since 1928
Todd R. Carman — ECHO Staff
RUSSELL continued on pg. 11 >
The ECHO
CONTEST continued
on page 6 >
I
announces
2020
contest results
i"
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HmK
Lee Russell
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students in making big strides in a short time.
His journey with WSD began with an occurrence to which
Windham teacher Lee Russell's dream:
helping students find path to success
Bryan J. Moore—ECHO Staff
“M
.JL ▼ JL tne same tools required _
to be successful in obtaining an education, i
These are tools such as being committed, / \ A J <
being responsible, being disciplined and , , /a
being willing to put out the necessary effort   ,      |
to achieve,” said Lee Russell, Literacy II/
111 instructor on the Connally Unit.
Russell is one of Windham School
District’s (WSD) 2020 Lane Murray
Excellence in Teaching (LMET) initiative
honorees. The LMET initiative acknowl-
edges teachers’ contributions to both the
success of their students and the success
of the instructional program itself. These
accolades come as a result of Russell’s pow-
erful impact as an educator. After eagerly
embracing the opportunity to teach at
WSD two years ago, Russell has assisted
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All write!
T ike you, Tie ECHO has
JLjbeen dealing with
2C2O COVID-19 challenges,
including multiple medical
restriction lockdowns, the
Managing Editor having to
work off-site for an extended
period, and the staff operating
in separate shifts to maintain
social distancing protocols.
Thankfully, we have good
health, good work—and now,
a great list of winners from
The ECHO'S writing contest.
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I
Y BIGGEST CHALLENGE IN CORRECTIONAL
education is getting my students to see
that the same tools for success on a job are the late Dr. Martin Luther King could certainly have related.
“One night 1 saw myself working in a
correctional facility in a dream,” Russell
said. “But I didn’t know anything about
school in prison before I started working
for Windham.”
Before the dream, the idea to work in
correctional education was also suggested
by a much more conventional means.
“I was a facilitator and tutor for an adult
literacy program that provided education
for previously incarcerated individuals.
One day, a student in that program asked
me if I’d ever thought about teaching in
a correctional facility, after which he
expressed to me ‘Mr. Russell, you’d be a
good fit.’
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