Jeff Ross is Alleghany County Schools new Tobacco Prevention Coordinator.

Ross is new tobacco prevention coordinator

Jeff Ross, a native of Galax, Va., began his newest job as the tobacco prevention coordinator for Alleghany County Schools in November 2007. He takes the position most recently held by Lidjea Andrews, who took a job as a guidance counselor at Glade Creek School. Like Andrews, Ross' position is funded through a grant with the North Carolina Health and Wellness Trust Fund.

The Galax High School class of 1996 graduate attended Radford University, where he received a bachelor's degree in criminal justice in 1999. Upon college graduation, Ross served as a police officer with the Galax Police Department. He later opted to become a game warden with the state of Virginia, a position which he held for five years.

When asked why he chose to make the transition from game warden to tobacco prevention coordinator, Ross commented, "I think it's a good cause. I think it's a good thing to try to help kids stay off tobacco." Still getting his feet wet, Ross stated, "I'm getting some guest speakers to come talk to some of the schools and to come to the health fair at the high school. I've done a few classes (addressing) the dangers of tobacco." In addition, he is working with ninth grade health classes and attending training to learn more about his new job. Ross noted that he is presently working on having a Survivors and Victims of Tobacco Empowerment (SAVE) speaker tell her story to youth in the county schools in March or April, but nothing has been finalized on the matter as of yet.

Ross offered, "Before I got here, they had a cancer survivor who had mouth cancer..."

Addressing goals involved in his new job, Ross said his primary goal would be to keep students from being users. He added, "I would hope to help some kids who are on tobacco quit and help the schools provide a 100 percent tobacco-free atmosphere."

At present, Ross is attempting to re-institute tobacco prevention clubs that had once been in place at the middle school level at each of the county's three elementary schools. Meanwhile, TATU (Teens Against Tobacco Use) remains active at the high school.

 

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