On Tuesday, Nov. 10, the Olympic Corrections Center hosted a special recognition event for all in-service instructors at the camp’s Performance and Development Center. Facilitated by Superintendent John Aldana and training manager Jamie Kerschner, the event acknowledged all 16 instructors’ contributions during the 2014-2015 in-service cycle and welcomed in the 2016 training year.

Aldana reflected a mission of staff development through outcomes and measures, in coordination with Results Washington and Results DOC. He discussed offender management strategies, corrections sociology, professional workplace behaviors and continuous learning. Aldana mentioned the importance of instruction directly correlating to the work performed by staff. He spoke of the significance of staff development as a priority for the facility and agency to meet the evolution of the environment and changing offender populations, as well as cited the initiatives of evidence-based and performance outcomes/measures and prison safety.

Kerschner detailed the prior year’s training requirements and accomplishments. Set back by shift demands and facility needs, OCC staff completed the 2014-2015 training over several months. OCC instructors logged over 600 total in-classroom hours. This included custody training in use of force with weapons compliance and control impendence tactics training at 100 percent. All-staff classroom instruction achieved 100 percent compliance, which included evidence-based practices, diversity and professionalism, and emergency response.

Aldana presented all in-service instructors with coins and certificates denoting the courses they had taught. He then challenged recipients to reflect on their greatest challenges as instructors and find solutions to generate another successful training year. Staff in attendance contributed to a fall-inspired potluck, coordinated by secretary supervisor Elena Friesz.

The event closed with upholding the motto and ideals of “modeling the consummate correctional worker: Professional – Knowledgeable – Respectful – Prepared.”