By Heather Reese
Enterprise writer
After 30 years of working in prisons, Veronica Rebeiro still stands strong in her ability to educate and inspire even the toughest students.
Rebeiro, Edmonds Community College Dean of Corrections Education at the Monroe Correctional Complex, recently received the EdCC Excellence in Education award for her work helping inmates earn general education degrees and receive vocational training. She will retire Aug. 12.
“I really want to thank the outstanding staff, faculty and students that have made my job a lot easier,” Rebeiro said. “Without them, this award would have never been possible.”
Rebeiro started her counseling career at the Monroe prison in 1974, just one week after graduating from college with a criminal justice degree.
“My first experiences as a counselor were very positive,” Rebeiro said. “I felt that there was a real need in society for people to work with offenders to change their lifestyles.”
Ever since, Rebeiro has been helping inmates prepare to reenter the community.
“I have worked with offenders who came in illiterate and left with a vocational degree,” Rebeiro said. “To see them overcome their deficiencies is very rewarding.”
Rebeiro encourages her staff members and students, teaches communication and parenting skills to inmates and tries to bring out the best in everybody.
“I have learned that people usually want to improve or change their lifestyle,” she said. “Once you give them the tools to change, they will.”
When she began her career in corrections education 30 years ago, Rebeiro was the only female counselor at the Washington State Reformatory. Today, more women are working in the field.
“There have been many women who have opened the doors for others,” Rebeiro said. “The role change in our society has been significant.”
Although Rebeiro is retiring, she plans to continue her work in social service within the community. Her ultimate hope is for corrections education to be funded at a higher level in the future.
Rebeiro has been working for EdCC since 1987. She earned her master’s degree in public administration at Seattle University in 1976 and has taught criminal justice classes at Shoreline Community College. Many of her students have gone into corrections education as an occupation.
“This job has both challenges and successful outcomes,” Rebeiro said.
“There is never a dull moment.”
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