Staff Interview: Abbey Blake
9/22/2023
Tri-County Jobs for Ohio’s Graduates (JOG) is lucky to have staff who are dedicated to the mission of the JOG program. Through the practical application of our competencies in assisting students in achieving real-world success, Abbey Blake has played a pivotal role in helping Alliance High School students create lasting positive impressions in their careers and personal lives.
It’s always a great thing to be able to give back to your community, and Abbey has been able to do just that in her hometown of Alliance. When Abbey graduated from Alliance High School in 2006, she went on to attend Ohio University studying media arts. This degree brought her back to Alliance High School to work in their media arts department part-time. Looking for something full-time and in Alliance, Abbey came across the after-school program. She felt called to work as a tutor in the program at Alliance HS after being referred to it by a friend, When her friend stepped down, Abbey assumed leadership of the program for five years. Abbey looked back on this time and said, “As this program was [coming to a close], JOG was looking to bring someone in at Alliance and when I was told it would be the same kids I’ve been working with, I hopped on it.” Abbey continued, “I interviewed with Chris and he said that I sounded like the perfect fit and since I was already integrated, I just jumped right in.”
Abbey has been with JOG since she joined in 2016 and has been making lasting impressions since day 1. She says that it all comes from a place of being down-to-earth in her lessons. Abbey elaborated, “I have been able to create a space where my kids feel like they are heard. I try to keep my lessons relatable and real.” When asked about how she feels about her time at JOG, Abbey exclaimed, “I love being here at JOG! I can see the impact of helping kids grow here in my own backyard.”
In terms of classroom content, Abbey has successfully imparted critical skills to her students, such as conflict resolution, attention to detail, and effective communication.” These aren’t just needed to get through school, but to be a successful employee too. As Abbey explained, “I always say I teach my students how to get a job, and how to keep a job.” She also emphasized the idea of showing your dedication to a job before being hired saying, “I tell my students to go in and check up on an application in person. They may not write your name down if you call in, so you have a better chance of someone checking up on it if you go in person.”
Abbey has been a cornerstone of the Alliance community. We are so lucky to have her as a part of the JOG family. Her efforts really show off all that JOG can be for young people in Ohio. Staff like Abbey are the reason JOG has been able to succeed for all of these years. We look forward to many more lives being positively influenced in the future.