Inmates find blessing in education

Ricky McDonald worked in a burger and sandwich shop before being sentenced to Warm Springs Correctional Center in Carson City.

When he gets out, he hopes to be qualified for a better job.

“I’ve learned a trade, something I can take with me,” he said.

McDonald graduated last year from the prison’s culinary program.

“It teaches you technical work,” he said. “But it also teaches you to work with other people. And it teaches you class and finesse when you prepare food.”

Northern Nevada Correctional Center is graduating 51 inmates — 19 from culinary arts. Twenty-eight inmates will receive their general education degrees and 20 will receive a meritorious computer certificate. Additionally, 62 earned their food handling certificates through the health department.

Warm Springs Correctional Center held its graduation Wednesday.

Warden Harold Wickham said education is a key component in the facility, where 98 percent of the 14,000 inmates are going to be released someday.

“If we don’t give them an education, which is the only thing prisons can do to reduce recidivism, then we aren’t doing our jobs. We aren’t protecting the community,” Wickham said. “If they don’t have skills for success when they get out, they come back. We’re really taking a quantum leap from a department of prisons to a department of corrections.”

It also changes the culture of the prison.

“We don’t have fights here anymore,” Wickham said. “We keep them busy through programming and education.”

Cameron Dolan received his high school diploma two years ago and now works as a teacher’s aide.

“It’s a confidence booster,” he said. “I’m at a low point in my life. To get back on top, I need to excel and get some accomplishments. I’m getting in the right state of mind to get back on track. When I get out, I want to be able to say I used my time well, that I tried to better myself while I was locked up.”

At 52, Versell Coleman said he sees value in his education regardless of age.

“I didn’t think about getting a diploma when I was on the streets,” he said. “When I came here, I was inspired to go and get it.”

He credits the teachers for encouragement and support.

“The teachers all chipped in and helped me out,” Coleman said. “They taught me things I didn’t know. It’s a blessing.”

Sam Santillo, director of adult and prison education for the Carson City School District, said most of the teachers have taught 20 years or more.

“The staff here is very experienced,” Santillo said. “They know what they’re doing. More importantly, they like what they’re doing, and they do a good job.”

The education programs are provided through the Carson City School District, but don’t receive funding from the per-pupil account that serves kindergarten through 12th grade.

“It’s a totally separate department,” Santillo said.

Wickham said he sees the men leave the program with a sense of pride.

Dolan said the pride comes not only from a sense of accomplishment, but also of transformation.

“This won’t change what I did to get in here,” Dolan said. “But I can show the community I am changed.”