JAG-Missouri will enter the 2021-22 school year on a high note, having received multiple awards from JAG National for performance last year. JAG-Missouri received awards for overall state success, as well as awards for performance at the school and individual levels. The awards were announced during the national training in mid-July and presented during the state training in late July.
JAG is a national program that helps students who have potential, but who also have significant barriers to overcome, including poverty, a challenging family life, and trauma they have experienced in their lives. JAG helps those students reach their full potential by first graduating from high school and being successful at whatever career they choose to enter.
In 2021-22, JAG-Missouri will serve approximately 3,500 students in 99 programs in 67 schools across Missouri. JAG-Missouri offers middle school programs, multi-year high school programs, and alternative programs.
Middle school programs focus on good decision-making, leadership development, career exploration, and basic employability skills. High school programs focus on career exploration, employability skills, resume development, interview skills, and work experience.
JAG is celebrating its 40th anniversary as a nationwide nonprofit organization. Since its founding in 1979, JAG has served more than 1.5 million students, achieving a national graduation rate of 90 percent or higher every year of its existence. In 2021-22, JAG will serve more than 76,000 students in 40 states, including Missouri.
National Awards for JAG-Missouri
State “5 of 5” Award
For the fifth consecutive year, JAG-Missouri received the JAG National “5 of 5” award for meeting or exceeding the five key performance measures identified by JAG for the traditional high school programs. The results included:
The JAG National graduation rate across all state affiliates was 96.8 percent, the highest in the organization’s history.
National Awards for Schools
School “5 of 5” Award
Fifteen JAG-Missouri programs received the “5 of 5” award. They include:
– Bolivar High School
– Central High School in Kansas City
– Couch High School
– Crane High School
– Hayti High School
– Hillsboro High School
– Jennings High School
– Kennett High School
– Lebanon Hillcrest Education Center in Lebanon
– McDonald County High School
– Versailles High School in Morgan County
– Riverview Gardens High School
– Smith-Cotton High School in Sedalia
– South Pemiscot High School
– West Plains High School
National Awards for JAG Specialists
The JAG-Missouri teachers are called Specialists. A number of them were recognized by JAG National for outstanding achievement during 2019-20.
Outstanding Specialists
– Erica Dement, Farmington High School
– Joan Dietrich, West Plains High School and Zizzer Academy
– Holly Harmon, Aurora High School
– Amanda Harvey, Smith-Cotton High School
– Robin McKinley, Cape Girardeau Central Academy
– Tineka Rentie, Central High School in Kansas City
– Allison Walters, Versailles High School
– Andrew Webster, Kennett High School
High Performers
– Sam Nansel, Hillsboro High School
– Sara Reynolds, McDonald County High School
– Shantra Tucker, Bolivar High School
Peak Performers
Average Barriers – Alternative Education
Robin McKinley Cape Girardeau Central Academy
Average Competency Attainment – Alternative Education
Sarah Keithley and Allison Norfleet, Mexico Alternative School
Average Contact Hours – Alternative Education
Zeb Hammond, De Soto High School
Above and Beyond Recognition
JAG-National recognized members of the JAG family who went above and beyond during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Brandon Johnson – Hillcrest Education Center in Lebanon
State Awards for JAG Programs
At the JAG-Missouri Summer Training Institute, the first annual James H. Buford Outstanding Program Awards were presented. The awards were established in 2020 to honor Buford, who was the first Executive Director of JAG-Missouri in the early 1980s and received the Legacy Award from JAG National. Buford is best known for his long tenure as president of the Urban League for Metropolitan St. Louis. The 2021 Buford Award winning programs included:
Senior and Multi-Year Programs
– Hillsboro High School
– Bolivar High School
– Jennings High School
– Kennett High School
– Riverview Gardens High School
– Smith-Cotton High School in Sedalia
Alternative Programs
Hillcrest Education Center in Lebanon
Middle School Progams
– Clarkton Middle School
– De Soto Middle School
– Fulton Middle School
– Hillsboro Middle School
– North Wood Middle School
Kudos
“I can’t say enough about the work of the JAG-Missouri schools and Specialists,” said Paul Kincaid, Executive Director of JAG-Missouri. “Even in these challenging times, our Specialists were able to continue to help our JAG students succeed. These award winners are representative of all of our Specialists. They care about their students and they are always willing to go the extra mile to help them achieve their goals. I am so pleased they were recognized by JAG National.”