The Oklahoma City resident will begin his duties Jan. 1
OKLAHOMA CITY - Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Treat has appointed Sidney Ellington to the Oklahoma Board of Juvenile Affairs.
Ellington, of Oklahoma City, will replace Warren A. “Tony” Caldwell, who is stepping down from the board effective Dec. 31. Caldwell, of Oklahoma City, serves as the board’s chairman. The nine-member board, which is the rulemaking body for the Office of Juvenile Affairs (OJA), is scheduled to elect a new chairman in January. Its other duties include approving OJA’s annual budget request, assisting staff with priorities and policies of the agency and establishing procedures and payment rates for contracting agencies.
“I appreciate Senate Pro Tem Treat’s trust in me, and I’m honored to serve our state,” said Ellington, whose appointment begins Jan. 1. “I look forward to working with staff to ensure the young people in OJA custody are receiving the education and training in order to make better decisions, as well as psychiatric, psychological, and addiction therapy as needed,” he said. Ellington, a retired Navy SEAL officer, is executive director of the American Red Cross of Central/Southwest Oklahoma and is responsible for 13 Oklahoma counties.
Before that, he served as executive director of the Warrior-Scholar Project, which helps enlisted servicemembers transition from the military to higher education; director of the Military Veterans Outreach and Support Initiative: Teach for America (TFA); program manager of the Truancy Center Improvement Initiative of the Recovery School District, which is administered by the Louisiana Department of Education; and a member of the TFA Corps in the greater New Orleans region.
He earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science with minors in history and English, a Master of Arts in political science, and a doctorate degree in political science - all from the University of Oklahoma. In 2016, he was named the recipient of the American Legion National Education Award, which honors the person who has best promoted either the educational programs of the American Legion, any educational programs that correspond to the legion’s or education goals at the national level.
He is a member of the Archdiocesan School Advisory Council (ASAC), which advises the archbishop and superintendent of schools in the Oklahoma City Archdiocese on ensuring educational and formational goals of archdiocesan schools are being met. He previously served as a mentor for Youth Run NOLA, an after-school sports program in New Orleans, and for the Louisiana National Guard Youth Challenge Program.
“Mr. Ellington’s distinguished career includes emphasis in education and involvement with at-risk youth and selfless service to our country,” said OJA Executive Director Steven Buck. “He has valuable experience helping teens and is aware of what they need to be successful.” Caldwell has been a member of the OJA board since 2015.