Four inmate-offenders at the Louisiana Correctional Institute for Women Jetson  have recently been getting hands-on experience with heavy equipment, including a backhoe and  Bobcat brand skid steer, after going through Heavy Equipment Operator (HEO) classroom work and training on a CAT heavy equipment simulator, in preparation for becoming the first four women there to be fully certified NCCER ( National Center for Construction Education and Research) instructors for future training of other offenders at LCIW Jetson. The offenders-teaching-offenders approach is a cost-effective way to give skills to offenders for their successful reentry, helping level the jobs playing field for them when they are released, said Kristy McGovern, LCIW Jetson’s Education Coordinator. HEO is just one of many education programs offered at LCIW Jeteson.

Recently, five offender-students at LCIW became the first women in the state to pass their coursework and state exams to become Licensed Cosmetologists while incarcerated, McGovern said.

Sheila Jenkins, an inmate-offender at the Louisiana Correctional Institute for Women Jetson, trains Thursday, May 12, 2022 on a backhoe, getting a day on real real heavy equipment after going through Heavy Equipment Operator (HEO) classroom work and training on a CAT heavy equipment simulator, in preparation for becoming fully certified NCCER ( National Center for Construction Education and Research) instructors for future training of other offenders at LCIW Jetson. She’s one of the first four taking the course. The offenders-teaching-offenders approach is a cost-effective way to give skills to offenders for their successful reentry, helping level the jobs playing field for them when they are released, said Kristy McGovern, LCIW Jetson’s Education Coordinator. HEO is just one of many education programs offered there. Recently, five offender-students at LCIW Jetson became the first women in the state to pass their coursework and state exams to become Licensed Cosmetologists while incarcerated, McGovern said.

Sheila Jenkins, left, an inmate-offender at the Louisiana Correctional Institute for Women Jetson, talks with LCIW Warden Kristen Thomas, right, as fellow offender Dawn Bennett, center, demonstrates the use of a CAT heavy equipment simulator, in preparation for becoming fully certified NCCER (National Center for Construction Education and Research) instructors for future training of other offenders there, Thursday, May 12, 2022. They’re two of the first four taking the course, doing Heavy Equipment Operator (HEO) classroom work, training on the simulator and then on real heavy equipment. The offenders-teaching-offenders approach is a cost-effective way to give skills to offenders for their successful reentry, helping level the jobs playing field for them when they are released, said LCIW education coordinator Kristy McGovern. HEO is just one of many education programs offered at LCIW Jetson. Recently, five offender-students at LCIW became the first women in the state to pass their coursework and state exams to become Licensed Cosmetologists while incarcerated, McGovern said.

Cynthia Anderson, an inmate-offender at the Louisiana Correctional Institute for Women Jetson, trains Thursday, May 12, 2022 on a Bobcat brand skid steer, getting a day on real real heavy equipment after going through Heavy Equipment Operator (HEO) classroom work and training on a CAT heavy equipment simulator, in preparation for becoming a fully certified NCCER (National Center for Construction Education and Research) instructor for future training of other offenders at LCIW Jetson. She’s one of the first four taking the course, including Dawn Bennett, right, working as her spotter. The offenders-teaching-offenders approach is a cost-effective way to give skills to offenders for their successful reentry, helping level the jobs playing field for them when they are released, said Kristy McGovern, LCIW Jetson’s Education Coordinator. HEO is just one of many education programs offered there. Recently, five offender-students there became the first women in the state to pass their coursework and state exams to become Licensed Cosmetologists while incarcerated, McGovern said.

Cynthia Anderson, an inmate-offender at the Louisiana Correctional Institute for Women Jetson, trains Thursday, May 12, 2022 on a Bobcat brand skid steer, getting a day on real real heavy equipment after going through Heavy Equipment Operator (HEO) classroom work and training on a CAT heavy equipment simulator, in preparation for becoming a fully certified NCCER (National Center for Construction Education and Research) instructor for future training of other offenders at LCIW Jetson. She’s one of the first four taking the course, including Dawn Bennett, left, working as her spotter. The offenders-teaching-offenders approach is a cost-effective way to give skills to offenders for their successful reentry, helping level the jobs playing field for them when they are released, said Kristy McGovern, LCIW Jetson’s Education Coordinator. HEO is just one of many education programs offered there. Recently, five offender-students at LCIW Jetson became the first women in the state to pass their coursework and state exams to become Licensed Cosmetologists while incarcerated, McGovern said.

Apparatus that makes the CAT heavy equipment simulator into a ‘different machine, at the Louisiana Correctional Institute for Women Jetson,Thursday, May 12, 2022.

Tiffany Byrd, an inmate-offender at the Louisiana Correctional Institute for Women Jetson, trains Thursday, May 12, 2022 on a backhoe, getting a day on real real heavy equipment after going through Heavy Equipment Operator (HEO) classroom work and training on a CAT heavy equipment simulator, in preparation for becoming fully certified NCCER ( National Center for Construction Education and Research) instructors for future training of other offenders at LCIW Jetson.

Tiffany Byrd, an inmate-offender at the Louisiana Correctional Institute for Women Jetson , trains Thursday, May 12, 2022 on a backhoe, getting a day on real real heavy equipment after going through Heavy Equipment Operator (HEO) classroom work and training on a CAT heavy equipment simulator, in preparation for becoming fully certified NCCER ( National Center for Construction Education and Research) instructors for future training of other offenders at LCIW Jetson. She’s one of the first four taking the course.

Dawin Bennett, an inmate-offender at the Louisiana Correctional Institute for Women Jetson, demonstrates use of a CAT heavy equipmemt simulator, Thursday, May 12, 2022.

Sheila Jenkins, an inmate-offender at the Louisiana Correctional Institute for Women Jetson, talks about going through Heavy Equipment Operator (HEO) classroom work training on a CAT heavy equipment simulator and real heavy equipment, in preparation for becoming fully certified NCCER ( National Center for Construction Education and Research) instructors for future training of other offenders at LCIW Jetson. She’s one of the first four taking the course.

Sheila Jenkins, an inmate-offender at the Louisiana Correctional Institute for Women Jetson, trains Thursday, May 12, 2022 on a backhoe, getting a day on real real heavy equipment after going through Heavy Equipment Operator (HEO) classroom work and training on a CAT heavy equipment simulator, in preparation for becoming fully certified NCCER ( National Center for Construction Education and Research) instructors for future training of other offenders at LCIW Jetson. She’s one of the first four taking the course.

Sheila Jackson, right, an inmate offender at the Louisiana Correctional Institute for Women Jetson, spots for Tiffany Byrd as she trains Thursday, May 12, 2022 on a backhoe, getting a day on real real heavy equipment after going through Heavy Equipment Operator (HEO) classroom work and training on a CAT heavy equipment simulator, in preparation for becoming fully certified NCCER ( National Center for Construction Education and Research) instructors for future training of other offenders at LCIW Jeetson. They’re two of the first four taking the course.

Original Article by: Travis Spradling | The Advocate | May 17, 2022 | https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/multimedia/photos/collection_d253d99e-d5e8-11ec-b61a-6b785871e6ec.html#9