Public Safety

Inspiring Youth to Believe in Themselves

Reading Time: 2 minutes

In a juvenile detention center there is dedicated teacher who refuses to let students fail. He knows their hardships. He knows how to help them succeed. He’s been through it himself.

“We try to help our students realize their potential and let them know they can achieve,” said East Mesa Detention Facility teacher JiAel Brownell.  

Brownell, 32, was recently honored by Union Bank and KPBS as a Local Hero in celebration of Black History Month. KPBS sent a camera crew to interview him on the job last month about his work with juvenile offenders.

Brownell teaches English, Social Studies and U.S. History to the longer-term offenders.

“He’s not giving up on me or just watching me fail,” said Sergio Ramirez Fuerta, 18, one of Brownell’s students. “I tell him, ‘I can’t do it’ and he tells me, ‘Don’t give up’ and I trust him.”

Fuerta said he needs special help at times because he wasn’t attending school before he got in trouble. Since experiencing some success in Brownell’s classroom, he said he now plans to get his diploma when he finishes his sentence.

“I really see that he tries to help us out,” said another student, Omar Hernandez, 18. “He really wants to see us succeed in life.”

Brownell said he is one part of a great team that includes other educators, teacher assistants, program administrators and the Probation Department staff. He considers his teaching assignment a “special mission” with unique and diverse students because part of his job is to convince them to start fresh and believe in themselves.

Having been through the juvenile system himself, he understands the offender’s difficulties, and helps students see a first-hand example of someone who has succeeded despite a mistake.

“It makes me sad to think that some people think these kids are done (based on a bad decision),” he said. “We all make bad decisions sometimes … even our heroes.”

Brownell said he chose to work with these students because he wants to make a difference in their lives for the better.

“Where can I be the most benefit to the youth? That’s here,” Brownell said.  “I know there is a need for teachers like me.”

Brownell’s name was initially submitted for the Local Hero honor by community members for his work with juvenile offenders. A board then selected Brownell after they reviewed his qualifications.

Visit the KPBS website to watch the feature segment about Brownell now airing.