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Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice School System - Building a Better Future
Zane Shelfer, Georgia Department of Juvenile JusticeFollow
First Presenter's Institution
Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice
Second Presenter's Institution
Third Presenter's Institution
Fourth Presenter's Institution
Fifth Presenter's Institution
Session 6 (Verelst)
This presentation will provide a comprehensive overview of the Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice School System including demographics, programming, and reentry challenges. Attendees will learn specific information about the three programs the DJJ School System operates and how the success of those programs can be replicated in other state juvenile justice systems.
Come see how the Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) School System is Building a Better Future for students who enroll. The DJJ School System provides academic and career services to students from middle school through high school and up to enrollment in technical college and four-year universities. Highlights will include an overview of these services and best practice information for creating a similar school system.
The Department of Juvenile Justice is the 181st school system in Georgia. The DJJ School System operates three programs; a middle and high school called Georgia Preparatory Academy, an Adult Education Program (GED) called Pathway to Success, and a graduate program called Connections Graduate Program. This presentation will provide an overview of all three programs.
The presentation will also include challenges and successes in the DJJ School System and suggestions for replicating these programs and a school system similar to the DJJ School System within other state juvenile justice agencies.
The presentation will also include an overview of the DJJ agency and specific reentry services that students face when returning to public school. Current community partnerships with public schools and other state agencies and organizations will be discussed.
The presentation will consist of videos and a PowerPoint. Attendees will leave with knowledge of best practices when improving and creating school services in a juvenile justice agency.
We have found that students who leave the DJJ School System with a high school diploma, GED diploma, or Technical Certificate of Credit have a much better chance of securing employment, not reoffending, and thus reducing recidivism.
Individual Presentation
Zane Shelfer has been employed with the Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) School System since 1998 as a teacher, school counselor, and Director of Student Support Services. He is currently the Assistant Superintendent of Student Support Services. Mr. Shelfer is a National Certified Counselor (NCC), National Certified School Counselor (NCSC), and a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Georgia. In addition to his work with the Department of Juvenile Justice, Mr. Shelfer worked for four years in community mental health assessing youth and adults for mental health services.
Mr. Shelfer attended the University of Georgia where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Education. He also holds a Master of Education in Counseling and Guidance from Valdosta State University and a Specialist in Education from Georgia State University. In addition, Mr. Shelfer holds an Educational Leadership certification from Georgia State University.
Juvenile Justice, Education, Reentry
Shelfer, Zane, "Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice School System - Building a Better Future" (2019). National Youth-At-Risk Conference Savannah. 53.
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/nyar_savannah/2019/2019/53
Academic Advising Commons, Adult and Continuing Education Commons, Online and Distance Education Commons, Prison Education and Reentry Commons, Secondary Education Commons, Vocational Education Commons