Appreciative of Vaughan, Teen Court

I would like to take a moment to shine a light of appreciation on Ms. Sarah Vaughan, Charles County Teen Court coordinator.

Earlier this year my son was referred to teen court for a speeding ticket. Our first step in the process was to meet with Ms. Vaughan in her office. Our meeting lasted over two hours. In that time, Ms. Vaughan asked questions, relayed stories and indirectly gave sage advice to my son. She was taking the time to get to know him and not just “process” him through the program. Anyone that has met her knows Ms. Vaughan is not a soft spoken woman, yet her voice has tenderness and compassion laced through it even at her loudest. When you watch her interact with her teen court kids, you see how much she cares about them. Her passion for her work is changing their lives and giving them a second chance to make the right decisions.

Since becoming a part of Teen Court, my son has learned how to be a volunteer. He has completed seven Teen Courts, sitting on several juries. And by answering Ms. Vaughan’s questions about his goals and plans, my son is starting to think about his future in ways he never did before. If he had just gone to traffic court, he would have missed out on a few good life lessons. In closing I would also like to thank the countless adult volunteers who freely give up their time every other Thursday evening. Their participation is what allows this program to continue and be successful.

Tammy Bundy, Welcome