It is with mixed emotions that I share with you, my DYS community, that Judy James has announced her retirement as of March 31, 2024.  While I am happy for her (and a little jealous), this is a huge loss not only for the OSD but also for the division as a whole.  She has been a stabilizing force in an ever-evolving organization and in this particular office.  When she started, there were basically three OSD instructors, one training center, and an average of ten students per academy.   Now at the end of her career, the division now has eight OSD trainers, three learning centers, and a collective average of forty students per academy.  As you may have guessed, these changes have only increased the complexity of her role along the way.  Despite these challenges, Judy has been a bedrock for this office and always seems to find a way to support a successful outcome.  While this reference will date this writer, I often thought of Judy as our Radar O’Reilly.  For those who may not know, Radar is a character on a 70’s TV show that was basically the glue that held a Mobile Army Surgical Hospital (MASH) unit together, making sure they had the resources needed to provide care to others. 

On a personal note, Judy was one of the first to welcome me when I was honored with the opportunity to be a part of the Office of Staff Development.  She helped me with my transition from CALM and was instrumental in my efforts to take on a new role.  Along the way, she has helped me figure out the basics of managing a budget, making purchases, and navigating the contract process all while trying to grow an ever-evolving training program.   

On behalf of the training team and the division, thank you so very much for being a part of a noble profession that all points to helping youth find their true selves.  You will be deeply missed. 

~ John Ferullo, Director DYS Office of Staff Development

If you would like to join the team in wishing Judy a fond farewell, please stop by the OSD office on Thursday, March 28th at 1:00 pm.  Please bring a snack to share.  We would love to see you there!

Some tips to keep in mind:

We all learn from each other, our emotions, and our environment. How are you contributing to this process?

We all need to recognize and own our emotions while we learn to understand the emotions of others. How does this process help or hinder our daily interactions?