Dear Esteemed Colleagues and Friends. We hope this message found you flourishing and well.

We were beyond excited to host the Arizona Correctional Educators Symposium from June 4 to June 6, 2024, at Harrah’s Ak-Chin, where we embraced the theme: “Every Seed Grows into Something Amazing.” This year, we celebrated the incredible journey of growth and transformation in the field of correctional education. Our carefully curated program was a tribute to our collective progress and potential, featuring a vibrant mix of keynote speeches, educational workshops, and interactive sessions.

Educators and professionals from federal, state, county, and tribal backgrounds gathered to share breakthroughs and insights that promised to elevate our practice. The symposium served as a fertile ground for innovation, discussion, and discovery, with a diverse lineup of sessions designed to enrich every participant.

We were honored to welcome you to Ak-Chin, where we explored the latest advancements and celebrated the transformative power of education together.

We truly came together, each contributing our unique piece to the mosaic of progress, fortifying the foundations of education and the Arizona Correctional Educators community.

Plenary Session: KEYNOTE

We had the pleasure of welcoming Raul R. Ramos as our keynote speaker. Raul’s journey from hardship to honor was chronicled in his bestselling autobiography, “Ese to Master Jefe.” Originating from the challenging streets of Los Angeles, California, Raul’s early life was marked by severe poverty. With little direction or support, he became entangled in gang activities as he sought belonging. However, determined to forge a new path, Raul left the gang life behind and enlisted in the United States Navy. Over 24 years of service, he ascended to the prestigious rank of E9 Master Chief (Master Jefe), a true testament to his resilience and dedication. Raul’s story was a powerful testament to the potential for transformation, illustrating that no matter one’s start in life, greatness is possible.

Luncheon Keynote:

We also had the honor of hearing from Jarmel A. Bell, founder of Bell’s Education and “I am Me: Know Who You Are”—a program focused on social and emotional learning. Mr. Bell has a deep passion and commitment to the development of people, which is why he has made a career out of studying and teaching the importance of communication and moral standing. He believes that a society that cannot communicate is a misunderstood society, which is why “I am Me” was born. Mr. Bell emphasized that introducing social and emotional learning as a shared responsibility of parents, teachers, and community members would lead to positive character development at a young age.

He is an alumnus of Arkansas State University, where he received a Bachelor’s degree in Middle School Education(emphasis in Mathematics) and a Master’s degree in the Theory and Practice of Education. His career includes roles as Director of Violence Prevention for the Department of Defense at Luke Air Force Base, Behavior Specialistat Lewisville School District, TX, Director of Education for Juveniles in Poinsett County, AR and Denton County, TX, and an Instructor at Arkansas State University in the teacher education department.

Thank you to all who joined us for this enriching event, and we look forward to continuing our journey of growth and transformation together!