Students at Normandy High School and Jennings Educational Training School (JETS) are benefiting this year from contributions made by AT&T Missouri. The contributions are supporting the Jobs for America’s Graduates program at both schools.
Officials from the two schools and AT&T celebrated the grants in separate events on December 13 at the two schools. Missouri Governor Jay Nixon, who serves as a vice chair on the JAG National Board of Directors,joined the event at Normandy. Jobs for America’s Graduates-Missouri (JAG-Missouri) is a state-based nonprofit organization that is part of the national JAG network.
The JAG curriculum emphasizes a wide variety of employability skills. JAG-Missouri has 19 sites, including seven in the St. Louis area. Besides Normandy and JETS, the other St. Louis sites include Vashon High School, Roosevelt High School, Sumner High School, Riverview Gardens High School, and Jennings High School.
AT&T provided two contributions for St. Louis area JAG schools for 2016-17: $10,000 sustaining grant awarded to JETS, now in its fourth year with the program, and a $20,000 incentive grant awarded to Normandy High School, which began offering JAG this year. JETS has 24 JAG students this fall; Normandy has 23 this fall, heading toward an ultimate goal of 45-50.
JAG-Missouri has 19 sites, including seven in the St. Louis area. Besides Normandy and JETS, the other St. Louis sites include Vashon High School, Roosevelt High School, Sumner High School, Riverview Gardens High School, and Jennings High School. AT&T provided two contributions for St. Louis area JAG schools for 2016-17: $10,000 sustaining grant awarded to JETS, now in its fourth year with the program, and a $20,000 incentive grant awarded to Normandy High School, which began offering JAG this year. JETS has 24 JAG students this fall; Normandy has 23 this fall, heading toward an ultimate goal of 45-50.
AT&T has been one of JAG’s longest time and strongest supporters, both at the national and state levels. AT&T’s contribution to JAG is part of AT&T Aspire, the company’s signature philanthropic initiative that drives innovation in education -through technology, social innovation and relationships -to ensure all students have the skills they need to succeed in school and beyond. AT&T Aspire has impacted more than one million students since its launch in 2008.
“For AT&T, this is yet another investment in the future of Greater St. Louis and its youth,” said John Sondag, President of AT&T Missouri. “We believe in the power of JAG, based on its 37-year history of success, and we are proud to be one of its partners. We are confident this investment will help lead to higher graduation rates and better futures for the students JAG serves.”
The other JAG-Missouri programs are at the Central Academy of Excellence in Kansas City, Study Alternative School in Springfield, West Plains High School and Alternative School, Hillsboro Middle School and High School, Farmington High School, Bismarck High School, Central High School in Park Hills, West County High School in Leadwood, Kennett High School, Hayti High School, Caruthersville High School, and South Pemiscot High School.
The school officials agree. “We are pleased with the addition of JAG to serve our students,” said Dr. Herman Harris, JETS Administrator. “In the three years we have had the program, we have seen the students in the program find their passion, develop skills, graduate, and be successful after high school.”
“Even in the early stages, we are seeing the positive impact the program can have,” said Dr. Derrick Mitchell, principal at Normandy High School. “We are excited to grow the program, which we believe will be easy as more and more students learn about the opportunities it offers.