Lynnmarie Fye, Visual Communications Teacher of Hope Valley School at Richland Correctional Institution (RiCI), was recently selected second place winner in the 2014 Correctional Education Association of Ohio (CEAO) Teacher of the Year Award contest.
Nominees, who must be CEAO members and spend at least 51 percent of their time teaching in a correctional setting, were submitted by the Ohio Department of Youth Services and the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction.
Fye spent 18 years in advertising, she said, before beginning her career with RiCI. She has been teaching the Visual Communications class since 2002.
Fye said she could not be successful without the RiCI administration. “Richland [Correctional] is the premier educational facility in the state of Ohio, for those in prison,” said Fye. “That’s quite an honor to be part of that.”
The enthusiasm of Fye’s students at RiCI left no doubt as to why her colleagues found her worthy of the nomination for Teacher of the Year.
One student, RiCI inmate Miguel Ashford, said that Fye’s last name is actually an acronym for “For Your Enlightenment.”
“I used to think I couldn’t draw, but she challenges us,” he said.
“She cares,” added RiCI inmate Charles Stanforth. “She cares about her students.”
In her class, Fye teaches all aspects of visual communication, including drawing, digital photography, video editing, and typography. Fye said she often describes the class as “the art part of advertising.”
The class also assists students in social skills, and even provides an outlet for students to voice opinions, as well as an opportunity to learn to respect the opinions of others, Fye said.
“[The class] helps broaden your horizons and shows you can do a lot more if you put your mind to it,” said one student. “This is a really great class. Miss Fye is the type of teacher that makes sure you are learning everything, that you get it.”
Fye’s class accommodates 24 students per day, 12 in the morning and 12 in the afternoon, she said. “I would have 50 if I had a big enough classroom,” she added with enthusiasm, noting that she currently has over 1,000 students per year.
Some students attend Fye’s class for a full year before moving on to a Career Tech path, while others attend a single 5-week module.
Stanforth noted that design was something he plans to pursue as a career once released. “He worked in a factory for six and a half years,” said Fye, “and he had no idea he had this talent.”
“It goes beyond the drawing,” added Ashford. “At the end of the day, we’re learning all these skills, and I’m hoping there’s some opportunity for us on the outside.”
“We need people to give us a chance,” he continued. “The whole point in coming to prison was for punishment and rehabilitation. This class has definitely given us the rehabilitation.”
“They get the education…now we have to get them jobs,” said Fye. “These are good guys. They want change.”
Fye noted that inmates are trained in a number of trades in the hope of gainful employment after release.
RiCI Correctional Wardens Assistant Jennifer Gillece said RiCI encourages employers to visit the facility for prospective trained employees. “We actually would encourage anyone, with any type of vocational trade, if they are interested they can definitely come out here and see some of the things that we do,” she said. “They can interview an offender before they are released.”
“We have to give them a chance,” added Fye.
“Now I can go home and chase a dream,” said Ashford, “and that’s what life’s really about.”
Those employers that would like more information may contact Gillece at 419-526-2100 ext. 2003 or jennifer.gillece@odrc.state.oh.us.
Editor’s note: Some RiCI students are not identified by name for privacy reasons and as a part of RiCI policy.
“She cares,” added RiCI inmate Charles Stanforth. “She cares about her students.”
