NEW INSTRUCTOR LOVING JOB — Jennifer Davis has taken over the role as transition-to-work coordinator at the Jefferson County Joint Vocational School. The pupils are learning about job-readiness and life skills by working at the Soaring Eagle Café and in the community. Those in the TTW program include, from left, seniors Alaina Warren, Hailey Bradley, Zayne Carlson and Davis. -- Contributed

BLOOMINGDALE — Longtime intervention specialist Jennifer Davis has been a familiar face around the Jefferson County Joint Vocational School. However, now, she holds another title — the school’s new transition-to-work coordinator.

The Amsterdam resident began her duties Sept. 3, although she says she feels as if the JVS has been her home for a long time. She was after all, a student there herself, years ago.

A 1993 graduate of Edison High School, Davis was enrolled in the business data accounting program at JVS. She said it has been a “real family affair.”

Her father, John Ramsey, is a retired power mechanics instructor who was succeeded by her brother-in-law, Fred Jones. Her sister, Emily Moore, teaches the animal science management program.

Moreover, Davis is married to Buddy Davis, the electrical trades instructor. The two share a son, Brody.

“We believe in vocational education wholeheartedly,” Davis said. The Richmond native earned her teaching degree from Ohio University and worked at Tri-County Career Center and Carrollton Exempted Schools before returning to the JVS.

She has spent the past 10 years as an intervention specialist, teaching math, financial literacy, world history and English, as well.

Davis said she’s always had a special place in her heart for the developmentally-disabled students and decided to take advantage of the position when it became available.

Former instuctor Christina Henderson had moved on to Edison High School and Davis applied for the role.

“I’ve always loved these kids and was looking for something new and challenging,” Davis said. “When the opportunity came up, I decided to take a shot.”

She works with a class of nine students. Three are returning students and six are new to the school this year.

Davis has assistance from her aides, Dawn Pugh and Greg Emmelrick.

She is helping the juniors and seniors to learn how to manage the Soaring Eagle Café, where they peddle popcorn, cookies and slushies to school students and staff during lunchtime. She is looking into more long-term goals for them, as well.

Davis said she is acclimating herself to the position but hopes to carry on some longtime projects, including working with the Jefferson County Humane Society as part of a community service program.

Students have worked within the community by cleaning up Vaccaro Field, helping at local businesses, operating the Caring Closet and providing supplies at school.

Davis wants to reach out to other groups to project with, such as the Friendship Room.

“We are working on their job-readiness and life skills, along with their academic requirements,” she said. “We’re starting slowly and working on community-based projects as graduation requirements to gain hours. They’ve always done something with the animal shelter and I want to continue that.”

Her ultimate goal is to help them become productive members of society.

“It’s a new challenge around every corner and every bend,” she concluded. “They are keeping me on my toes and I’m loving it.”