The Olympia School District Education Foundation (OSDEF) recently announced the addition of six new board members, including the Department of Children, Youth, and Families' (DCYF) Superintendent of Green Hill School, Jennifer Redman.
“Each one of our new trustees possesses professional and life experience that will tremendously benefit both our organization and our mission to reduce barriers and enhance educational success for all Olympia School District students,” said OSDEF Executive Director Katy Johansson.
As the superintendent, Jennifer oversees the behavioral health programs, custody, medical care, nutrition, wellness and vocation/education access for the 174 young adults at Green Hill School. She has also volunteered for the YMCA, is a member of the Council of Juvenile Justice Administrators-Performance-based Standards and is president of the Capital High School Football Club.
“During my 25 years of experience working in various aspects of juvenile justice, I have seen firsthand the impacts that scarce resources in the community can have on a vulnerable population. I have heard countless stories directly from young people and their families about the importance of mentoring, which in a school district equates to teachers and staff who care and understand the unique needs of each student,” said Jennifer. “Having a voice on the OSDEF board is not only a meaningful way to contribute to my community, but may ultimately help reduce the number of young people coming into the juvenile justice system.”
Jennifer will spend a three-year term on the OSDEF board, extending her passion and expertise to the greater community.