Jeremy and Rachel Mapp, house parents of the nationally acclaimed organization Joe’s Place, have announced they will be stepping down from those roles at the end of the current school year. The Mapps have been with Joe’s Place for nearly four years.
Jeremy Mapp joined the MRH Elementary School in 2012 as the 6th grade math teacher. He is currently a 3rd/4th grade looping teacher at MRHE. He is also pursuing his EdD in Educational Leadership at Maryville University. Prior to coming to MRH, he was a 4th grade teaching intern in the School District of Clayton.
Rachel Mapp has worked with Bridges Community Support Services and the International Institute as a trainer.
The Mapps are also new realtors with the Mid-County Chamber of Commerce’s Business of the Year, Clarity Street Realty.
“What a ride this has been these past three years with our Joe’s Place guys,” said Jeremy. “We truly consider ourselves blessed and so lucky to do what we do every day. We want to thank the entire Joe’s Place community for having faith in us and trusting us with the hearts of so many amazing young men. We will never stop loving our boys and supporting them to achieve their best selves. We can’t believe it will be our last year here at this magical place, but it is time for us to start our next chapter.”
“We are absolutely certain that Joe’s Place will continue making a difference in the MRH School District and in the lives of many young men in the community,” Rachel added. “We hope to remain connected to this wonderful organization.”
Jeremy and Rachel’s last official day will be June 30, 2018. The Joe’s Place Board of Directors will undertake a comprehensive search for the new house parents.
Joe’s Place offers homeless teenage boys in the Maplewood Richmond Heights School District a caring home environment that supports them in graduating from high school and creating positive futures. Joe’s Place is an innovative idea born from a dramatic need in our community. Each year close to a dozen MRH high school students find themselves virtually without a home due to serious family difficulties. These students often sleep and eat wherever friends will let them settle for a while. As the MRH School District struggles to find a safe haven for these youngsters, we find again and again that homeless teens between the ages of 14 and 19 have limited resource options in our social welfare system. Joe’s Place offers a small group of teenage boys what every kid should be able to expect from life: a warm place to sleep, regular meals, and someone to provide guidance and affection.
Contributed by Ed Rich, Maplewood Richmond Heights School District