The Rehabilitation Professional of the Year Award is given annually to the person or persons who help facilitate the successful reintegration of the individuals in our care back to their communities equipped with the tools to be drug-free, healthy, and employable members of society by providing education, treatment, rehabilitative, and restorative justice programs, all in a safe and humane environment.
Rehabilitation Professional of the Year Recipient:
Martin Griffin, Assistant Chief of Education, Office of Correctional Education
Mr. Griffin exemplifies the pastoral style and sensibility that is the core of the rehabilitative process. Rather than seeing labels on people for things they have done or said, he supports people becoming better versions of themselves. Mr. Griffin cultivates this perspective among others in the ways he manages those within his supervision, as well as integrating it into the design of programs in his areas of responsibility.
He leads with a clear message and gentle guidance, maintaining an understanding of researched-based programming. This is also a reflection of the career of someone invested in equity and quality. Mr. Griffin models working with a conscience by the way he treats others, and his faithful commitment to the authentic mission of the “R” in CDCR.
Mr. Griffin has led the way for the improvement of academic programs and, specifically, the implementation of the CyberHigh High School Diploma program. He has been instrumental in the exceptional statewide professional development opportunities for our teachers including new curriculum implementation. He is always positive and eager to assist or to take on a new challenge.
We can already observe substantive differences in the quality and focus of professional discourse among teachers and administrators compared to just three years ago. Mr. Griffin’s leadership has been instrumental in accomplishing this growth across all Office of Correctional Education programs.
