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Top Staff Hired
for Facility in McLennan County
June 17, 1999
Contact: Pamela Ward
(512) 424-6305
MART
- Some key
personnel have been chosen for the McLennan County State Juvenile Correctional
Facility in Mart, Superintendent John Hopkins announced today.
The first phase of the juvenile
corrections facility is under construction in Mart. The contractor is
reasonably on schedule for a targeted Oct. 16 completion. The facility
- TYC's 15th secure correctional institution - will open with
352 beds, and another 320 beds authorized in the 1999 Texas legislative
session will be added.
Bob Waller has been selected
as the facility's Business Manager. Waller is a graduate of Tarleton State
University and has been the Business Manager at the TYC Marlin Orientation
and Assessment Unit since its opening.
"Mr. Waller brings to us an
abundance of agency knowledge not only in the business field but also
in corrections," Hopkins said. "He will be a valuable asset not only in
starting a new facility but also in the day-to-day operations."
Paula Ramirez has been selected
as Principal. She has a degree in Criminology and Corrections from Sam
Houston State University, as well as a master's in Education from the
University of Texas at Pan American. She holds Texas teaching certificates
in English and Spanish.
In addition to her educational
background, she spent three years as an educational consultant and has
a diversified background in the private educational software industry.
Ramirez taught at the Texas Youth Commission facility in Edinburg and
also was a public school assistant principal in the Texas Valley. "Ms.
Ramirez will bring to TYC the unique combination of her backgrounds in
both criminal justice and education," Hopkins said.
Darrick Bledsoe, Sr. will be
the facility's Human Resources Specialist. He comes to TYC from the Texas
Workforce Commission. He has fifteen years experience working in human
resources, with the past seven years in management. Bledsoe has a bachelor's
degree in Business Administration from Paul Quinn College in Waco and
a master's in Divinity from Guadalupe Seminary in San Antonio.
While working as a workforce
specialist, Bledsoe was stationed at high school campuses to work with
an "at risk youth" program. Hopkins said, "Mr. Bledsoe brings with him
a vast knowledge of labor laws as well as enthusiasm and a positive attitude."
Debrah Burgess has been selected
as Staff Trainer and comes to TYC from the Heart of Texas Region MHMR
where she worked as a staff development instructor. She has been employed
with the state for the past 17-1/2 years, with the last 12-1/2 years being
in staff development. She received a bachelor's degree from the University
of Texas at Tyler and her master's in Education from Stephen F. Austin
University in Nacogdoches. "We are fortunate to have someone of Ms. Burgess'
experience joining us here," Hopkins said.
Applications for a variety
of jobs at the Mart facility now are being accepted at the Texas Workforce
Commission office at 925 Columbus Avenue in Waco. The telephone number
there is (254) 754-5421. The Texas Workforce Commission is conducting
the initial screening of applicants in advance of a July 28 TYC interview
fair. Applications to attend the interview fair are due by July 2.
More information, including
job descriptions and official State of Texas job applications, is available
via the internet. That address is http://www.tyc.state.tx.us/new/mart/hiring.html*.
Information also is available by calling Karen Collins at TYC at (512)
424-6130.
*NOTE: Since this Press Release
was issued the location of job opening for the Mart facility has changed
to http://austin.tyc.state.tx.us/cfinternet/jobopening/.
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