Greenfield-Central JAG specialist Darren Turner spoke with students at a job fair recently. The G-C JAG program was honored recently by national JAG officials, and Turner was named an oustanding specialist.
Submitted photo
HANCOCK COUNTY – Local high schools were honored this summer for programs that help students gain job skills.
Greenfield-Central, Mt. Vernon and Eastern Hancock’s Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG) programs were honored for earning the “5-of-5” State Award.
The award is from the national non-profit JAG organization and announced at a training seminar in July in Las Vegas.
Employment rate, full-time employment, full-time positive outcomes and further education rates were considered in the award for the Class of 2021.
Additionally, Darren Turner, the JAG specialist at Greenfield-Central High School, was named as a JAG Outstanding Specialist. Turner was among 93 across the country to receive the award; eight in Indiana.
JAG is a state-based national non-profit organization that supports young people facing significant challenges to reach economic and academic success, according to the JAG website.
A recent article in Forbes Magazine states the most common format is with high school students, assisting those who have been identified by school officials as having substantial barriers to graduation. Programs are run by a specialist and students take a class to learn employability skills, career development, job attainment, job survival, leadership, and personal skills.
While the national program has been around 40 years, Greenfield-Central is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year of JAG.
Mt. Vernon High School has a long track record of achieving the 5 of 5 award, according to the school corporation’s director of community relations.
“What we are trying to accomplish for the students is occurring both in and out of the classroom,” said former JAG teacher James Cochran in a written statement. “We have guest speakers from a variety of careers come in to speak with our students nearly once a week. Receiving the award is reassurance that you’re making a positive difference in students’ lives.”
