September 12, 2024 • 12 mins
We spoke with Senior Director of Education, Mark Hedrick and Jason Russell, JMR Staffing CEO, about Oak Hill school. Oak Hill offers great opportunities for students with disabilities. Partner with Oak Hill through a local fundraiser coming up.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Thank you for listening to Community Access. I'm Alison Demurz today.
My guess are Mark Hedrick, Senior director of Education for
the Oak Hill School and Jason Russell, CEO of JMR Staffing.
Good morning, gentlemen, Good morning. So tell me about Oakhill School.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
So we're a private, state approved special education school where
we creatively meet the needs of our students. Each individual student.
We're a twelvemonth community based program. The school program serves
students with moderate to severe disabilities from ages three to
twenty two. Our classrooms are based in the community, many
(00:38):
are located within the public schools. This offers significant time
with peers and allows for integration into the community as appropriate,
and we're able to teach those functional, meaningful skills in
real situations. Speaking a little bit more about Okill the organization. Additionally,
we provide residential assistive technology and Richmond opportunities to thousands
(01:01):
of individuals who need it.
Speaker 1 (01:03):
Tell me what impact the school has had on the students.
Speaker 2 (01:06):
I see the impact every single day from students gaining
more independence, going out into the community more independence and
doing those functional skills and those life skills at home.
I get to see that every day, and I'm the
luckiest guy in the world to be working where I do.
I love it.
Speaker 1 (01:24):
And for the parents, how does it make them feel
to see their children thriving.
Speaker 2 (01:29):
I'll give you. I'll give you a couple of examples
that I absolutely love to share. I had a parent
call me after their student had been with us, her
kid had been with us for two weeks, and the
words that she said it was only a few simple words,
my kid has a home, and that just meant the
(01:49):
world to me. It just you know, you know, I
tear up thinking about it. We have other students with
more significant needs that have moved into our group homes
and they live in the group homes and they go
to school with us, and the impact that that's had
on the rest of their family at home, Knowing that
(02:10):
their child is being taken care of because of their
needs and that their family can get kind of back
to a sense of normalcy as well, has had a
huge impact.
Speaker 1 (02:22):
I know, for me, when someone's nice to my child,
it's the nicest thing that you can do for me, right,
I just love you if you're nice to my child.
How has it impacted our community?
Speaker 2 (02:34):
Well, I think because we are community based. It's really
it's all about normalization and getting people with disabilities out
into the community and seeing them every day, and you know,
just making them part of the everyday community is important
to us.
Speaker 1 (02:52):
Absolutely. What is school like.
Speaker 3 (02:56):
School is.
Speaker 2 (02:59):
The kids don't even know they're learning when they're there.
They come in and you know, right off the bat,
you know, they start with their schedule and they do
their morning meeting, and then they could be based on
what their individual education plant says, they could be out
on a shopping trip, you know, getting groceries. They could
(03:19):
be out at a park, they could be out at
a work site, a vocational setting. We try to do
activities with the students that they're going to be doing
every day anyway, so oftentimes they don't even know that
they're learning. They could be doing a science activity while
(03:40):
they're doing gardening. So one example is there they could
be out measuring the height of plants every day, seeing
the progress on their growth, watering the plants, taking care
of the plants, and then graphing the progress of that.
They're doing science and don't even know.
Speaker 1 (03:56):
I love that.
Speaker 2 (03:57):
It's absolutely wonderful.
Speaker 1 (03:58):
And have you seen the friendships they've made along.
Speaker 2 (04:01):
The way, I have absolutely Another parent that I spoke
with said that their child had been to the public
school and they've been to another private school and didn't
have any friends. And the child came home after a
(04:21):
couple of days and said, I have friends. I have
people that like me, And that just means the world.
When you know, I think think about you know, my
own child saying something like that, you know, it just.
Speaker 1 (04:36):
Makes me happy. I used to pray, please give them
good friends, not just because I wanted them to be
around good people, but I wanted them to feel loved
and not overlooked or forgotten.
Speaker 2 (04:47):
Absolutely try to give that to our students every single day.
Speaker 1 (04:50):
So what happens when they do graduate at a certain
age or a certain grade, are they ready to go
out into the world and have a job or it's
individual for everyone.
Speaker 2 (05:00):
It's really individual for everybody. What we do while we
have the students with us is to prepare them the
best that we can for that. For students that may
have some additional needs beyond you know, maybe they're not
fully independent, what we end up doing is providing resources
(05:22):
for the parents to be able to carry those on
after graduation. The students are allowed to be there until
they're twenty two.
Speaker 1 (05:32):
What are some of those resources.
Speaker 2 (05:34):
It could be community programs like placement in a group home.
There are many day programs out there. Oftentimes DDS Department
Developmental Services will pick up some costs and provide some
resources for that.
Speaker 1 (05:50):
I'm speaking with Senior Director of Education for the Oak
Hill School, Mark Hedrick. Their website is okillct dot org.
If someone listening would like to get involved, to participate
as either a volunteer at the school or attend the school,
what do they need to do?
Speaker 2 (06:07):
So we are as far as students go. Our students
are entirely referred to us by our sending districts, so
different towns and cities. If they cannot provide the programming
appropriate programming for the student they reach out to us.
In terms of students, they would have to go through
the district and go through the PPT process.
Speaker 1 (06:29):
So that's why you're having this golf tournament, so that
we can make Oak Hill even bigger and better and
greater and serve the community in a greater capacity.
Speaker 2 (06:38):
Absolutely, it's our largest fundraiser for the year. We are nonprofit,
so all of the proceeds benefit individuals with disabilities. At OKILL.
This year, as in other years, it's being held at
the TPC River Highlands, which, if you're a golfer like
i am, it's the home of the PGA Championship. It's
an absolutely wonderful course. For the tournament, we offer it
(07:02):
an elevated food and beverage package with really great gifts
for the players for all the golfers there.
Speaker 1 (07:10):
I'm also speaking with Jason Russell, CEO of JMR Staffing.
Why did you decide to get into the golf tournament?
Speaker 3 (07:18):
We love to be a sponsorship of OKILL and everything
they do. OKILL serves people with disabilities of all ages
and needs across seventy five towns of in Connecticut and
we're just excited to be a part of it. So
we figured sponsoring the golf tournament would help.
Speaker 1 (07:32):
For people who don't know about JMR. What is it?
Speaker 3 (07:35):
JMR Staffing is an agency that helps companies find associates
and associates go to companies finding jobs.
Speaker 1 (07:43):
Fantastic. So this year you're a platinum sponsor, you decided
to go up a level.
Speaker 3 (07:47):
We bumped it up one level, correct?
Speaker 1 (07:49):
Why is that?
Speaker 3 (07:50):
Just super excited to be partners with OKILL and we
wanted to go to a higher level and show how
much we we care.
Speaker 1 (07:56):
How is JMR Staffing connected with OKILL? How do you help.
Speaker 3 (07:59):
Them replace associates at OKILL to work in their field,
at their group homes and the schools.
Speaker 1 (08:06):
Oh wow?
Speaker 3 (08:07):
And the impact? What's science about is some of the
associates we send have the experience, and then some of
the people this is their first time going to the
school or going to the group homes, and it's amazing
because some of them undiscover the passion that they actually
help for helping people with disabilities. And hearing those stories
to us is incredible.
Speaker 1 (08:27):
It's beautiful.
Speaker 3 (08:28):
We love it.
Speaker 1 (08:29):
The people who go there feel gratified afterwards, and they
share with you, I met this person or this situation exactly.
Speaker 3 (08:36):
They'll tell us about the student they took care of,
or at the group home they were taking care of,
when the individuals they showed them how to count, or
whatever the case may be. It's amazing.
Speaker 1 (08:48):
What would you say to someone who says, I just
don't think I can do that kind of work.
Speaker 3 (08:52):
I think once you get into the field and see
and go hands on, you'll realize how amazing it actually
is to work with people with disabilities.
Speaker 1 (09:02):
My daughter works in a daycare and she has special
needs children. She's only twenty and at first we were like,
she'll never be able to do it. She comes home
every day she's so happy. She works nine to six
with these young children, and she has the patience of
a saint. And I never thought i'd see the day
(09:22):
and she's found her niche in life. So I just
believe that there's nothing better than helping someone in the
gratification you get from it.
Speaker 3 (09:31):
Exactly. It's a very satisfying field to be in.
Speaker 1 (09:33):
And it breaks the stigma about mental health issues and
people with disabilities because a lot of people, unfortunately don't
get to see someone one on one in that situation.
And until you do, then you truly understand it. We
do work with the Special Olympics as well, and they
say the same thing. This golf tournament, the thirtieth annual
Oak Hill Golf Classic. It's taking place on Monday, October seventh.
(09:57):
Awesome day. It's my birthday. I will be double nickels.
That's what they say. It's at the TBC River Highlands.
The registration and driving range begins at nine. The breakfast
and open bar. So that's at ten am. What is
that Bloody Mary's at ten am for an open bar.
Speaker 2 (10:14):
I wouldn't know.
Speaker 1 (10:15):
It's a workday for me, so good answer. Also, the
shotgun start is at eleven thirty. Please go to okilct
dot org. I know that we could use sponsors. Let's
talk about that.
Speaker 2 (10:28):
Yeah. Absolutely, we still do have sponsorships available for anybody
who's looking to be a sponsor of the golf tournament.
They can visit okillct dot org slash signature events to
learn more and sign up. One of the things I
want to mention, it's a great opportunity to meet some
of the individuals that we serve. They'll be at the
(10:49):
dinner reception. They're usually out on the course. We even
have students and our individuals. They're cheering on the golf
carts as they come when they do the shotgun start,
and in years past we've had students working the ice
cream truck at the event. It's absolutely wonderful.
Speaker 1 (11:08):
It is wonderful. And then you have dinner at five o'clock,
which I forgot to mention as you were saying, yes,
so what about donations if people can't make it that day?
Speaker 2 (11:19):
A donation is always welcome in any amount same thing.
They can go on the okillct dot org website and
there's a button right on there to donate wonderful.
Speaker 1 (11:32):
We're looking for volunteers, donations, golfers. A sponsor would be
a great way for you to get your business name
out there. Just go to okilct dot org. Gentlemen, thank
you so much for the amazing work you're doing in
our community and we look forward to seeing you again
when you do more events and hearing more about the
great work that JMR Staffing is doing for our community
(11:56):
and OKILL
Speaker 2 (11:57):
Thank you for having us and appreciate it.
Thank you for listening to Community Access. I'm Alison Demurz today.
My guess are Mark Hedrick, Senior director of Education for
the Oak Hill School and Jason Russell, CEO of JMR Staffing.
Good morning, gentlemen, Good morning. So tell me about Oakhill School.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
So we're a private, state approved special education school where
we creatively meet the needs of our students. Each individual student.
We're a twelvemonth community based program. The school program serves
students with moderate to severe disabilities from ages three to
twenty two. Our classrooms are based in the community, many
(00:38):
are located within the public schools. This offers significant time
with peers and allows for integration into the community as appropriate,
and we're able to teach those functional, meaningful skills in
real situations. Speaking a little bit more about Okill the organization. Additionally,
we provide residential assistive technology and Richmond opportunities to thousands
(01:01):
of individuals who need it.
Speaker 1 (01:03):
Tell me what impact the school has had on the students.
Speaker 2 (01:06):
I see the impact every single day from students gaining
more independence, going out into the community more independence and
doing those functional skills and those life skills at home.
I get to see that every day, and I'm the
luckiest guy in the world to be working where I do.
I love it.
Speaker 1 (01:24):
And for the parents, how does it make them feel
to see their children thriving.
Speaker 2 (01:29):
I'll give you. I'll give you a couple of examples
that I absolutely love to share. I had a parent
call me after their student had been with us, her
kid had been with us for two weeks, and the
words that she said it was only a few simple words,
my kid has a home, and that just meant the
(01:49):
world to me. It just you know, you know, I
tear up thinking about it. We have other students with
more significant needs that have moved into our group homes
and they live in the group homes and they go
to school with us, and the impact that that's had
on the rest of their family at home, Knowing that
(02:10):
their child is being taken care of because of their
needs and that their family can get kind of back
to a sense of normalcy as well, has had a
huge impact.
Speaker 1 (02:22):
I know, for me, when someone's nice to my child,
it's the nicest thing that you can do for me, right,
I just love you if you're nice to my child.
How has it impacted our community?
Speaker 2 (02:34):
Well, I think because we are community based. It's really
it's all about normalization and getting people with disabilities out
into the community and seeing them every day, and you know,
just making them part of the everyday community is important
to us.
Speaker 1 (02:52):
Absolutely. What is school like.
Speaker 3 (02:56):
School is.
Speaker 2 (02:59):
The kids don't even know they're learning when they're there.
They come in and you know, right off the bat,
you know, they start with their schedule and they do
their morning meeting, and then they could be based on
what their individual education plant says, they could be out
on a shopping trip, you know, getting groceries. They could
(03:19):
be out at a park, they could be out at
a work site, a vocational setting. We try to do
activities with the students that they're going to be doing
every day anyway, so oftentimes they don't even know that
they're learning. They could be doing a science activity while
(03:40):
they're doing gardening. So one example is there they could
be out measuring the height of plants every day, seeing
the progress on their growth, watering the plants, taking care
of the plants, and then graphing the progress of that.
They're doing science and don't even know.
Speaker 1 (03:56):
I love that.
Speaker 2 (03:57):
It's absolutely wonderful.
Speaker 1 (03:58):
And have you seen the friendships they've made along.
Speaker 2 (04:01):
The way, I have absolutely Another parent that I spoke
with said that their child had been to the public
school and they've been to another private school and didn't
have any friends. And the child came home after a
(04:21):
couple of days and said, I have friends. I have
people that like me, And that just means the world.
When you know, I think think about you know, my
own child saying something like that, you know, it just.
Speaker 1 (04:36):
Makes me happy. I used to pray, please give them
good friends, not just because I wanted them to be
around good people, but I wanted them to feel loved
and not overlooked or forgotten.
Speaker 2 (04:47):
Absolutely try to give that to our students every single day.
Speaker 1 (04:50):
So what happens when they do graduate at a certain
age or a certain grade, are they ready to go
out into the world and have a job or it's
individual for everyone.
Speaker 2 (05:00):
It's really individual for everybody. What we do while we
have the students with us is to prepare them the
best that we can for that. For students that may
have some additional needs beyond you know, maybe they're not
fully independent, what we end up doing is providing resources
(05:22):
for the parents to be able to carry those on
after graduation. The students are allowed to be there until
they're twenty two.
Speaker 1 (05:32):
What are some of those resources.
Speaker 2 (05:34):
It could be community programs like placement in a group home.
There are many day programs out there. Oftentimes DDS Department
Developmental Services will pick up some costs and provide some
resources for that.
Speaker 1 (05:50):
I'm speaking with Senior Director of Education for the Oak
Hill School, Mark Hedrick. Their website is okillct dot org.
If someone listening would like to get involved, to participate
as either a volunteer at the school or attend the school,
what do they need to do?
Speaker 2 (06:07):
So we are as far as students go. Our students
are entirely referred to us by our sending districts, so
different towns and cities. If they cannot provide the programming
appropriate programming for the student they reach out to us.
In terms of students, they would have to go through
the district and go through the PPT process.
Speaker 1 (06:29):
So that's why you're having this golf tournament, so that
we can make Oak Hill even bigger and better and
greater and serve the community in a greater capacity.
Speaker 2 (06:38):
Absolutely, it's our largest fundraiser for the year. We are nonprofit,
so all of the proceeds benefit individuals with disabilities. At OKILL.
This year, as in other years, it's being held at
the TPC River Highlands, which, if you're a golfer like
i am, it's the home of the PGA Championship. It's
an absolutely wonderful course. For the tournament, we offer it
(07:02):
an elevated food and beverage package with really great gifts
for the players for all the golfers there.
Speaker 1 (07:10):
I'm also speaking with Jason Russell, CEO of JMR Staffing.
Why did you decide to get into the golf tournament?
Speaker 3 (07:18):
We love to be a sponsorship of OKILL and everything
they do. OKILL serves people with disabilities of all ages
and needs across seventy five towns of in Connecticut and
we're just excited to be a part of it. So
we figured sponsoring the golf tournament would help.
Speaker 1 (07:32):
For people who don't know about JMR. What is it?
Speaker 3 (07:35):
JMR Staffing is an agency that helps companies find associates
and associates go to companies finding jobs.
Speaker 1 (07:43):
Fantastic. So this year you're a platinum sponsor, you decided
to go up a level.
Speaker 3 (07:47):
We bumped it up one level, correct?
Speaker 1 (07:49):
Why is that?
Speaker 3 (07:50):
Just super excited to be partners with OKILL and we
wanted to go to a higher level and show how
much we we care.
Speaker 1 (07:56):
How is JMR Staffing connected with OKILL? How do you help.
Speaker 3 (07:59):
Them replace associates at OKILL to work in their field,
at their group homes and the schools.
Speaker 1 (08:06):
Oh wow?
Speaker 3 (08:07):
And the impact? What's science about is some of the
associates we send have the experience, and then some of
the people this is their first time going to the
school or going to the group homes, and it's amazing
because some of them undiscover the passion that they actually
help for helping people with disabilities. And hearing those stories
to us is incredible.
Speaker 1 (08:27):
It's beautiful.
Speaker 3 (08:28):
We love it.
Speaker 1 (08:29):
The people who go there feel gratified afterwards, and they
share with you, I met this person or this situation exactly.
Speaker 3 (08:36):
They'll tell us about the student they took care of,
or at the group home they were taking care of,
when the individuals they showed them how to count, or
whatever the case may be. It's amazing.
Speaker 1 (08:48):
What would you say to someone who says, I just
don't think I can do that kind of work.
Speaker 3 (08:52):
I think once you get into the field and see
and go hands on, you'll realize how amazing it actually
is to work with people with disabilities.
Speaker 1 (09:02):
My daughter works in a daycare and she has special
needs children. She's only twenty and at first we were like,
she'll never be able to do it. She comes home
every day she's so happy. She works nine to six
with these young children, and she has the patience of
a saint. And I never thought i'd see the day
(09:22):
and she's found her niche in life. So I just
believe that there's nothing better than helping someone in the
gratification you get from it.
Speaker 3 (09:31):
Exactly. It's a very satisfying field to be in.
Speaker 1 (09:33):
And it breaks the stigma about mental health issues and
people with disabilities because a lot of people, unfortunately don't
get to see someone one on one in that situation.
And until you do, then you truly understand it. We
do work with the Special Olympics as well, and they
say the same thing. This golf tournament, the thirtieth annual
Oak Hill Golf Classic. It's taking place on Monday, October seventh.
(09:57):
Awesome day. It's my birthday. I will be double nickels.
That's what they say. It's at the TBC River Highlands.
The registration and driving range begins at nine. The breakfast
and open bar. So that's at ten am. What is
that Bloody Mary's at ten am for an open bar.
Speaker 2 (10:14):
I wouldn't know.
Speaker 1 (10:15):
It's a workday for me, so good answer. Also, the
shotgun start is at eleven thirty. Please go to okilct
dot org. I know that we could use sponsors. Let's
talk about that.
Speaker 2 (10:28):
Yeah. Absolutely, we still do have sponsorships available for anybody
who's looking to be a sponsor of the golf tournament.
They can visit okillct dot org slash signature events to
learn more and sign up. One of the things I
want to mention, it's a great opportunity to meet some
of the individuals that we serve. They'll be at the
(10:49):
dinner reception. They're usually out on the course. We even
have students and our individuals. They're cheering on the golf
carts as they come when they do the shotgun start,
and in years past we've had students working the ice
cream truck at the event. It's absolutely wonderful.
Speaker 1 (11:08):
It is wonderful. And then you have dinner at five o'clock,
which I forgot to mention as you were saying, yes,
so what about donations if people can't make it that day?
Speaker 2 (11:19):
A donation is always welcome in any amount same thing.
They can go on the okillct dot org website and
there's a button right on there to donate wonderful.
Speaker 1 (11:32):
We're looking for volunteers, donations, golfers. A sponsor would be
a great way for you to get your business name
out there. Just go to okilct dot org. Gentlemen, thank
you so much for the amazing work you're doing in
our community and we look forward to seeing you again
when you do more events and hearing more about the
great work that JMR Staffing is doing for our community
(11:56):
and OKILL
Speaker 2 (11:57):
Thank you for having us and appreciate it.
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