Professional Partner of the Month: November 2008
Julie Black
"Julie has a unique ability of working positively with the most at-risk and most alternative kids. She can find a special quality in every person, without judgment, and sees the best in all people."
- Kim Moore, Guidance Counselor, Chestnut Ridge High School
"Julie shows great care and compassion for all of her students. You can see through her work that she strives to connect with each student and find opportunities for them to grow and learn."
- Jeremy Fegert, Program Director, The Second Mile
"With Julie’s great personality and her social work background, she’s able to get all kinds of different kids to work together and achieve goals – without conflict."
- George Knisely, Principal, Chestnut Ridge High School
As the Health and Social Services Coordinator at Chestnut Ridge High School in Bedford County, Julie Black takes on many jobs and wears many different hats. Broadly speaking, her goal is to provide support for students in order to help them succeed in the academic setting. This is done on an individual basis, and includes, among other things, working with the Service Learning Club, mentoring Student Assistance Program (SAP) referrals, and tutoring. Far from doing her basic job, however, Julie tends to take on additional assignments, often working with the most difficult circumstances and challenging situations, and she does so with an infectious sense of humor and light attitude that makes her work with students, families, and staff very effective. For her excellent work, and for the difference she’s making in the lives of so many children and families, The Second Mile recognizes Julie Black as its Professional Partner of the Month for November.
Modesty and heart are clearly two of Ms. Black’s many attributes, as her take on this oftentimes challenging work comes from a place of gratefulness: “It is really my privilege to work with these kids.” And this work might mean working one day with the Lion Buddy mentors, another day with the Youth Leadership Team, and still another coordinating community and school services for both students and families. On any given day, Julie can be found working with the at-risk population, connecting, counseling, and mentoring students to help them succeed in school.
George Knisely, Chestnut Ridge High School’s Principal, says that Julie derives the most satisfaction from seeing students learn and grow and make positive changes, especially via their developing leadership skills. In her words, Julie further articulates:
| | "I get the most satisfaction from seeing students progress toward making positive decisions. I am especially proud when these decisions are based on intrinsic motivators, as opposed to trying to meet other’s expectations. I also find it very fulfilling to see students recognize their potential which increases their confidence. When they make these strides, they are able to step outside their comfort zone, get involved and experience new things." |
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Ms. Black’s enjoyment therefore often comes from seeing her students’ ability to discover something in themselves that more effectively guides better decision-making.
While the students’ efforts and growth are fulfilling to Julie, the students likewise benefit from their relationship with her. Chestnut Ridge High School Guidance Counselor Kim Moore, whose sphere and duties regularly intersect with Julie’s, feels that Ms. Black can often do what traditional counselors cannot – due to her skills, personality, and position. While the guidance counselor may be a little more constrained by time and place, and by other assignments, Julie is able to reach out, get involved in many of the students’ clubs and groups, and be a real great support system. George Knisely cited one instance of a student from tough circumstances who won an arts award, in part because of Julie’s work. Kim Moore adds, “Kids absolutely love her and feel comfortable with her.”
This symbiotic relationship feeds itself, with Julie giving greatly of herself, the students reaping benefits, and that cycle continuing as Julie finds motivation from the gains made by the students:
| | "I am motivated to go to work each day because of the relationships that I have with the students. It gives me great satisfaction to know that I am the person that a lot of them count on to be there if something goes wrong in their day, and also if something positive happens, I am the person they want to share that with. I also look forward to hearing their stories and spending part of my day with them, as I have a great appreciation for each student I work with and recognize certain qualities and resiliency in them that I admire." |
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Sometimes this work extends beyond the school day, like during the annual snow tubing trip to Seven Springs that Julie organizes, or with the team of sophomores she brings to The Second Mile’s four-day Leadership Institute in State College, or in the community service projects she coordinates and leads. Irrespective of the specifics, Ms. Black believes in the students, challenges them to approach their potential, and finds them opportunities to lead and to serve.
When asked to contemplate what she sees as the most significant challenge in her profession, Julie shared that so many students have been put down most of their lives by so many people, causing hurt and damage. The solution is a central part of Julie’s philosophy and modus operandi: build those students up, find the positive in each one, and give them opportunities – perhaps in something like ARTFEST – to work hard and take pride in their work. The byproducts of this kind of approach are often nothing short of amazing, as barriers between students who normally wouldn’t speak are broken down, and as diverse groups begin to better work together.
The Second Mile has appreciated its relationship with Chestnut Ridge and the part Julie plays in that, which she elaborates on:
| | "The Second Mile fits in to my job as support to some of the programs that are in place at our school. Students have attended the Second Mile Leadership Institute and developed the Lion Buddy Mentoring Program as a result of the Institute, which is still in place and grows each year. In addition, another group that attended the institute is working on an initiative that will improve the school climate and help break down stereotypes within the student body. Staff from the Second Mile trains students each year to become mentors to younger students, which has had positive results within the school district. Additionally, we hold an ARTFEST each year that exposes the community and its young people to the arts in a variety of ways." |
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Clearly Julie Black utilizes and leverages community resources in order to provide maximum services to Chestnut Ridge students.
When not wearing her professional hat, Julie keeps busy at home. She has been married to JT Black for 5 years, and they have two children, Paige, 9, and Johnny, 4. Her hobbies include spending time with her kids, running, watching Paige play sports, and participating in church activities.
It takes a very special person to do the work that Julie Black does, and to do it so effectively. She’s described as a free spirit who has high energy – someone who could be having the worst day, yet is always relaxed, always laughing. The students and other staff members alike find themselves more relaxed and less stressed when around Julie. This temperament, however, shouldn’t be confused with her ability to be firm, and to have high expectations from her students. Instead, her personality better enables her to connect with people and do the excellent work that so positively impacts so many people.
Because of this excellent work, The Second Mile is proud to name Julie Black as its Professional Partner of the Month for November.
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