Thomas named new CEO of Jeffco Services
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STEUBENVILLE -- A new chief executive officer has been named for Jeffco Services, but for the new officeholder it is just like coming home.
Area native Tracey Thomas officially began on Aug. 21 and will oversee the transition in privatizing adult services.
A 1981 graduate of Wintersville High School, Thomas obtained her bachelor and master's degrees in special education and rehabilitation counseling from Bowling Green State University. She remained in northwestern Ohio and served with the Wood County Board of Developmental Disabilities as a habilitation specialist, semi-independent living support specialist, job coach and women's basketball coach for the Special Olympics from 1986-90. From there, she served as a special day class teacher at Webster Elementary School through the Mesa Unified School District in Mesa, Ariz.
"It was a pilot project for mainstreaming in the school district with 9- to 12-year-olds who had severe developmental disabilities. We were in a self-contained classroom in a public elementary school," she explained.
Thomas remained there for two years and then joined Butler Valley Residential Facilities Inc. as a residential counselor in Eureka, Calif. There she developed and implemented individual living support plans for adults with disabilities in a group home facility. Subsequent posts were with Eureka City Schools as an adult education teacher and the Humboldt County Board of Developmental Disabilities in various positions, including a resource specialist, supported living services specialist and respite support worker.
She served another 18 years with the College of the Redwoods in Eureka, where she was a director of programs and services for students with disabilities, financial literacy advising specialist and finally dean of mathematics, science, behavioral and social sciences.
Thomas returned to Steubenville in 2016 to be closer to her family.
"I feel like I've returned to my roots, both personally and professionally," Thomas added. "I've come full circle."
Thomas will lead the effort as the Jefferson County Board of Developmental Disabilities privatizes adult services to meet state and federal mandates.
"My primary commitment is to ensure Jeffco Services is successful in obtaining Medicaid authorization to become a private provider and to work with JCBDD, Jeffco nonprofit board, leadership, staff and consumers in short- and long-term planning to get to that end."
Thomas said she sees her new role as a way to give back to the roughly 120 adult consumers and community as a whole.
"It's the perfect way to serve humanity and to be of service. It's a selfless service, and what better way to contribute to humanity and be of service to the greater good? I'm very proud to work for the county and grateful to be of service to the community. I'm proud to return to my hometown."