Valerie Deraville was only 22 when the Wayne YMCA hired her as aquatics director in 2012, but by then she had already worked seven years as a YMCA employee.
The Maplewood resident who began her career as a summer lifeguard and swim instructor at the South Mountain YMCA has been selected to take part in a prestigious professional development program offered by the YMCA Hispanic Latino Leadership Network.
Deraville is among only 50 Y staff members nationwide chosen for the six-month training, which is designed to get more Latino/Hispanic employees into YMCA leadership positions.
“Val is an enthusiastic and talented leader, and getting into this program is a well-deserved honor,’’ Wayne YMCA Executive Director Justin Ihne said. “This is a great opportunity for her career as a Y professional.’’
“I am very excited for this opportunity and to share what I learn with the whole staff to make the Wayne YMCA even better,’’ Deraville said.
Deraville, 24, discovered her love of swimming at age 10. While a member of her high school’s swim team, she worked at both the South Mountain YMCA in her hometown of Maplewood and at the West Essex YMCA in Livingston. Like the Wayne YMCA, the South Mountain Y and the West Essex Y are branches of the Metropolitan YMCA of the Oranges.
She attended Juniata College in Pennsylvania, where she was vice president and then president of her class and played violin in the orchestra. During two summer breaks, she worked as aquatics coordinator at the South Mountain YMCA, scheduling lifeguards responsible for the safety of more than 1,000 children.
When she graduated with a double major in psychology and health communication, the Wayne Y hired her as aquatics director to manage a staff more than 35. “I’m always trying to develop myself, and there’s so many opportunities for growth at the YMCA,’’ Deraville said.
Deraville has completed numerous YMCA trainings and instructs her staff in Stewards of Children, a program that teaches adults how to implement effective prevention policies, recognize the signs of sexual abuse in children, and react responsibly if abuse occurs.
With 950 members nationwide, the Latino Hispanic Leadership Network seeks to increase the engagement and professional growth of Latinos in the YMCA, assist YMCAs to reach and serve Latinos and to sensitize the greater YMCA community on issues important to Latino communities.
The goal of the training program, started in 2012, is to help full-time Y employees to advance at least one position level up and prepare them to qualify for Y-USA development programs. Participants take part in monthly webinars and get a mentor, among other things.
