Meet our 5 part-time paid Staff Members:
Jim Oraskovich, Executive Director:
Jim is a retired local School Superintendent. Jim is new to Restorative Justice, but is not new to working with and promoting programs that benefit our area youth from pre-school to college. He has lived in Pequot Lakes since 1979. He was the K-8 Principal for 16 years and then was hired in 1993 as the School Superintendent. Restorative Justice caught his attention because of the value it has for youth. They learn in a positive manner from a mistake. Jim is impressed with the staff and volunteers in the program. He feels the development of this program is amazing, for the five years it has been in existence.
Stephanie Haider, Director of Program Services:
Stephanie is a retired probation officer. She initiated, developed and operated
restorative justice and victim-focused programs at Dakota County Community Corrections from 1980 through 2003. She is currently a consultant for the Minnesota Restorative Services Coalition and a trainer for various national organizations including the Office for Victims of Crime and the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges. She is one of the co-authors and primary trainers of the curriculum used nationally to train community volunteers for Restorative Conferencing.
Terri Nault, Volunteer Coordinator:
Terri has been with our program for several years as a well seasoned Volunteer Conference Facilitator. With the growth our program has seen over the past couple years we found the need to give her a more permanent home as part of our great paid Volunteer staff. Terri brings with her several years experience working with crime Victims through her previous employment with the Anchorage District Attorney's Office. She is also a valuable member of our Public Relations Committee.
Janet Wedan, Administrative Assistant:
Janet joined the program in October 2006 and brings several years of office experience to this position, both in the public and private sectors. Besides LARJP, she is also currently employed with the Pequot Lakes Police Department as the Office Manager. Part of her job duties as manager includes processing all case files for prosecution, which requires organizational skills, attention to details and the abilities to multitask and work with confidential materials on a daily basis. The same skills are needed in her LARJP duties. Her experiences in the law enforcement field provide her with valuable knowledge and expertise in how the criminal justice system process works and how the restorative justice process can improve and compliment that process. Working for the police department also affords her the opportunity to make connections with other agencies that work with juveniles and the justice system.
Charmaine Shepard, Office Assistant:
Charmaine joined us in 2009. After being "downsized" out of her previous job of 7 years as a Daycare Center Director she decided to relocate and try her hand in a new job field. After working with small children for more than 15 years she has traded in her teaching shoes, being certified in Early Childhood Education, to work with juveniles that have a few more years under their belts. For the past 3 years she has been a valuable asset to our Program; providing us with the opportunity to have regular daytime hours for assisting our Volunteers and Program Participants. She has enjoyed getting to know more about the Criminal Justice System, while she continues to learn the LARJP ropes. Charmaine has now also gone through our Volunteer Facilitator training and will actually work more directly with our clients on a case now and then with a partner facilitator.
Jim is a retired local School Superintendent. Jim is new to Restorative Justice, but is not new to working with and promoting programs that benefit our area youth from pre-school to college. He has lived in Pequot Lakes since 1979. He was the K-8 Principal for 16 years and then was hired in 1993 as the School Superintendent. Restorative Justice caught his attention because of the value it has for youth. They learn in a positive manner from a mistake. Jim is impressed with the staff and volunteers in the program. He feels the development of this program is amazing, for the five years it has been in existence.
Stephanie Haider, Director of Program Services:
Stephanie is a retired probation officer. She initiated, developed and operated
restorative justice and victim-focused programs at Dakota County Community Corrections from 1980 through 2003. She is currently a consultant for the Minnesota Restorative Services Coalition and a trainer for various national organizations including the Office for Victims of Crime and the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges. She is one of the co-authors and primary trainers of the curriculum used nationally to train community volunteers for Restorative Conferencing.
Terri Nault, Volunteer Coordinator:
Terri has been with our program for several years as a well seasoned Volunteer Conference Facilitator. With the growth our program has seen over the past couple years we found the need to give her a more permanent home as part of our great paid Volunteer staff. Terri brings with her several years experience working with crime Victims through her previous employment with the Anchorage District Attorney's Office. She is also a valuable member of our Public Relations Committee.
Janet Wedan, Administrative Assistant:
Janet joined the program in October 2006 and brings several years of office experience to this position, both in the public and private sectors. Besides LARJP, she is also currently employed with the Pequot Lakes Police Department as the Office Manager. Part of her job duties as manager includes processing all case files for prosecution, which requires organizational skills, attention to details and the abilities to multitask and work with confidential materials on a daily basis. The same skills are needed in her LARJP duties. Her experiences in the law enforcement field provide her with valuable knowledge and expertise in how the criminal justice system process works and how the restorative justice process can improve and compliment that process. Working for the police department also affords her the opportunity to make connections with other agencies that work with juveniles and the justice system.
Charmaine Shepard, Office Assistant:
Charmaine joined us in 2009. After being "downsized" out of her previous job of 7 years as a Daycare Center Director she decided to relocate and try her hand in a new job field. After working with small children for more than 15 years she has traded in her teaching shoes, being certified in Early Childhood Education, to work with juveniles that have a few more years under their belts. For the past 3 years she has been a valuable asset to our Program; providing us with the opportunity to have regular daytime hours for assisting our Volunteers and Program Participants. She has enjoyed getting to know more about the Criminal Justice System, while she continues to learn the LARJP ropes. Charmaine has now also gone through our Volunteer Facilitator training and will actually work more directly with our clients on a case now and then with a partner facilitator.
