Jodi Yeloushan simply hopes to make a difference in the lives of the students she works with daily.
Now Dean of Students at Clarkston High School, Yeloushan, prior to entering education, had a very different route planned for her life.
Growing up in Ohio as the daughter of an avid sports fan who held Cleveland Browns season tickets and never missed a game for 50 years, Yeloushan, too, was like her dad. She dabbled in all kinds of sports in school from cross country to volleyball to cheerleading. And at Bethany College in West Virginia, Yeloushan was heading into a career in sports broadcasting, obtaining a degree in journalism and communications.
“As I neared the end of working on my bachelor’s, I decided I didn’t really want to do journalism, but I wanted to do more with children.”
It was one of those things, she says, where she didn’t realize what she wanted to do until she was already in college.
During that time, she began exploring different special education programs.
“When I wanted to go into education, I didn’t know where I wanted to go. My mother-in-law was an educator in Ohio, so she set up the opportunity for me to go into different special education classrooms,” Yeloushan said, noting she spent time in classrooms with students who were gifted to physically handicapped to having learning disabilities, to emotional impairments.
“It was a perfect fit for me because I enjoy working with children who give you that extra challenge.”
This led to acceptance into an exclusive program at West Virginia University. Only eight students were accepted, and Yeloushan was able to earn her master’s in special education in less than a year.
“It was kind of by luck the opportunity came. I was the only non-education major in that program.”
From there, now married to Eric, the two moved to Michigan. She set out to work in Detroit, and did not apply elsewhere.
She found a teaching job at Frank Murphy Middle School in a class of emotionally-impaired students, and “loved it,” working there for four years.
She and Eric moved out of state for a time, but upon returning Yeloushan wanted to work and live in the same community as her children — Nathan, 8, Erica, 7, and Isaac, 19 months. Another is due in April.
“That’s how I ended up in Clarkston.”
Throughout her time here, Yeloushan, 35, has been active in the high school mentor program, started an after-school tutoring program and Saturday school opportunities.
“I’ve seen a lot of kids, since when I first started working with them, flourish. And it’s not just because of me, but because of a team of people that I’ve worked with including family that pushes them in the right direction.”
She continued, “For more me it’s just touching the lives of kids in a positive manner. I can hopefully look back and see that I played an important role. I was either an advocate or a mentor. I helped them to go somewhere in life. I nagged them like their mother. A lot of kids refer to me as their second mother. In many cases, children or people might have a label, but that doesn’t mean the potential is limited. If there is a strong team in place, many kids and adults can become involved in a lot of different activities and become productive in their lives and are not limited.”
She’s seen this first hand as program director for SCAMP, a summer camp for special needs children and young adults, for the last five years, plus an additional year with the Bloomfield Hills program.
“It’s nice dealing with students with all types of disabilities — those who are higher needs students and students who are there that are at risk and need more guidance. The nice thing about working with a summer program, is seeing the growth, seeing the smiles, and seeing the happiness.”
Unfortunately, Yeloushan won’t be able to continue as program director due to conflicts with her current position.
Yeloushan is in her second year as an administrator at the high school. “I love this position. I love being involved with all the students. The worst part of the job is having to do the discipline, but knowing you have to be consistent and fair. But I love having contact with so many different kids. And also having the opportunity to identify those who are at risk, and working with them, working with families, getting them in touch with other necessary individuals, and working with counselors and school psychologists to coming up with a plan and being vigilant. I love being able to make changes.”
And Yeloushan has made changes in the lives of many students. In an article, The Clarkston News ran in 2001 regarding the high school mentor program, then senior Shelley Vasquez said Yeloushan was “like my guiding light. She’s an inspiration to me.”
For Vasquez, she was near giving up on school. With the loss of her mother, and other issues she was struggling with, quitting was just around the corner.
Yeloushan couldn’t let that happen, though. She persistently called Vasquez to get her out of bed in the morning and into the classroom instead. Vasquez eventually developed the will to attend, and graduate.
But Yeloushan is uncomfortable taking credit for Vasquez’s turnaround and the many other students like Vasquez.
“I think the community of Clarkston has their children, whether it’s their own physical child or the community’s at large, but they have the best interest of the children and to see them prosperous and make good choices. It’s a team effort.”

Maya Girschner, 7, painted a picture for last year’s PTA Reflections Fine Arts Program. This year, she made a video.
The cast?
“My sister, and me, of course, and my brother,”Maya said.
The Bailey Lake Elementary student earned an Award of Excellence in Film, and recognition from the Clarkston Board of Education April 28. Her video, “Kids Can Too,” will be entered in the national PTA’s Reflections Program.
She made the video with the help of her parents, Sven and Denise Girschner, big sister Megan, and little brother Joel. Since it was her video, Maya served as director as well as lead actor.
“I say ‘cut’ and ‘action’ ? it’s really fun,” Maya said.
“Joel was trying to put paper plates on the table and he went out of the video, and I said, ‘Cut! You’re out of the video.'”
“She likes being in charge,” Denise said.
The video demonstrates how children can participate in recycling, and saving water and electricity.
In one scene, Megan is brushing her teeth, with water gushing from the sink.
“I come in and yell at her, ‘What are you doing, leaving the water running,'” Maya said.
Then, she turns it off.
The PTA Reflections Program included Film, Literature, Visual Arts, and Music categories, for students pre-K through 12th grade. This year’s theme was “I Can Make a Difference By….”
Students receiving awards and school-board recognition also included :
Amanda Chamberlain, Sashabaw Middle School, Award of Merit in Literature;
Julia Rambeau, Springfield Plains Elementary, Award of Merit in Literature;
Alyssa Spytman, Clarkston Junior High, Award of Merit for Visual Arts;
Monique Zentner, Sashabaw Middle School, Award of Excellence for Visual Arts;
Rachel Glowski, Clarkston Junior High, Award of Excellence for Visual Arts; and
Micheal Culver, Clarkston Junior High, Award of Merit for Music.

Clarkston Junior High School student Sarah Head’s goal is to make the world a better place. She’s starting with her own classmates who need help.
‘I wanted to do something that would affect the community and would, over time, help more people, not just students, but their families, too,? she said.
Head, 14, took to heart a recent PTA effort to help a student who needed clothes and supplies.
‘It’s so sad ? it’s not right,? she said. ‘Students need the basics to help them excel in school.?
She organized a ‘Secret Closet? at the school, using a file room donated by the parent-teacher group.
‘It’s a great location, right down the hall from the counselor’s office,? Head said.
The project is for her Girl Scout Gold Award, but that’s just the beginning. She wants to expand the program, including at Clarkston High School next year.
‘I want to help solve problems not just in my community, but all over the world,? said Head, who’s interested in pursuing broadcast journalism as a career. ‘One of my goals is to be a Diane Sawyer Person of the Week.?
The PTA and school administration spread the word through email and letters. Local residents and businesses responded with thousands in donations and roomfuls of supplies.
‘Donations have poured in,? said Karen Head, Sarah’s mother.
The closet is fully stocked with clothes, coats, shoes, backpacks, personal care items and school supplies, but they need a continuous flow in donations and volunteers for long term success. Students looking to earn community service credit have been a big help, she said.
‘I hope to get people organized to restock it every couple weeks,? she said.
The Secret Closet project keeps participants’ names confidential, assigning numbers instead. Students are referred by classroom teachers, counselors, staff members and parents.
‘It’s aimed at students who don’t know where else to go for what they need,? Sarah said.
A school counselor brings students in, they fill out a wish list, choose their items, put them in their lockers, then return to class.
‘No one even knows it happened ? even I don’t know,? Sarah said.
Secret Closet needs gently used backpacks, jeans and pants, shirts, sweatshirts, jackets, shoes and boots. New items needed include underwear, socks, toothbrushes and toothpaste, and personal hygiene products.
Donations are accepted the first Friday of every month before school. Email SarahsSecretCloset@gmail.com.