Posted on February 18, 2022
As a full-time Dean’s List student and an extremely dedicated employee, Jessica Patchel has her hands full. Penn-Mar was very fortunate to have Jessica join our team three and a half years ago as a Residential Assistant. Since then, she has been promoted twice and is now a Residential Supervisor.
Jessica shares that working at Penn-Mar has easily been one of the best decisions she has ever made. She is passionate about providing the utmost quality of care to those she supports and advocating for them when they feel unheard.
Each day is completely different for Jessica, which she says makes things exciting. She is currently overseeing two houses and spending time in both locations. She truly does it all – scheduling appointments, administering medications, preparing meals, and running errands. Her favorite thing to do is explore the community with the people she supports. Jessica shares that the most rewarding aspect of her job is knowing she is making a difference and helping others live their best lives.
When asked “what is the most challenging aspect of your job?” she replied, “helping others understand that people with IDD (intellectual/developmental disabilities) are people too – we need to fight the stigmas that exist and spread acceptance and awareness for people with IDD.”
Jessica knew this was the right job for her when she started seeing growth in the gentleman she currently supports. He has come a very long way since she first began with him. He is quite the adventurous man – he tries new cuisines, enjoys being out and about, and seeks out new, exciting activities.
We asked her, “what do you wish people knew about your job?” to which she responded, “it isn’t just ‘hanging out’ all day – there is so much more to the job. It’s about providing excellent care and making a difference in people’s lives. For someone looking to enter this industry, know how important it is to form connections with the people you support so you can best accommodate their needs.”
Jessica is a HEART Award recipient and was nominated by her coworkers, peers, and the family of the person she supports as an exceptional team member. The Penn-Mar HEART Award program recognizes team members whose passion and performance leave the mark of their own legacy through exceptional demonstrations of Honesty, Excellence, Advocacy, Respect, and Teamwork. Jessica goes above and beyond and demonstrates the HEART she has for our mission and the people we serve.
Jessica, thank you for all that you do for the people you support and our organization. Your passion, heart, and dedication make the world a better place. We can’t wait to watch you continue to grow over the years!