New Employee Spotlight: Corrections Officer looks to be a voice to new recruits
Sara Morgan had always been interested in criminal justice, but she hadn’t thought about a career in corrections until a college instructor recommended she consider the field.
When she had the opportunity to apply for a position at the MDOC her instructor encouraged her to go for it.
Now she is excited to start work as a corrections officer at Central Michigan Correctional Facility.
She is one of the youngest recruits in her academy class, and was selected by her peers to speak as the class representative at her academy graduation.
She was one of 120 officers in the Paul Klee Academy class that held its graduation ceremony on May 18 in Lansing.
“I was shocked that I was nominated,” Morgan said. “It really helped show me the value I can have to the department. I want to be able to give everyone here a voice on what each person in the academy is capable of.”
Morgan, who is also studying criminal justice, criminology and psychology at Eastern Michigan University and Delta College, said she is grateful for the opportunity to work for the department.
She said she learned a lot of important lessons from her platoon leaders, field training officers and peers at the academy.
“The biggest thing I learned is the importance of accountability and teamwork,” she said. “We need to make sure we work as a team so that at the end of the day, we all get home safe.”
The graduation ceremony in Lansing also included remarks from class namesake Paul Klee, who retired as warden of Gus Harrison Correctional Facility in 2017, and Correctional Facilities Administration Deputy Director Ken McKee.
In addition, a number of graduates received awards for academic achievement and personal conduct.
Award winners included:
Sarah Morgan — Central Michigan Correctional Facility
Takesha Clark — Women’s Huron Valley Correctional Facility
Jasmine Ross — Women’s Huron Valley Correctional Facility
Moataz Elazizi — Woodland Center Correctional Facility
Joseph Wilkins — Central Michigan Correctional Facility
