JAG-Missouri will enter the 2020-21 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 a number of 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 2020-21, JAG-Missouri will serve more than 3,250 students in 87 programs in 60 schools across Missouri. JAG-Missouri will be offered in 22 middle school programs, 43 multi-year high school programs, and 12 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 1.4 million students, achieving a national graduation rate of 90 percent or higher every year of its existence. In 2020-21, JAG will serve more than 75,000 students in 39 states, including Missouri.
National Awards for JAG-Missouri
State “5 of 5” Award
For the fourth 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 both the traditional high school programs and alternative programs. The details are included on the 2020 Fact Sheet. Of the 39 JAG states, 17 received the “5 of 5” Award for traditional high schools; seven states received the “5 of 5” Award for alternative programs; and only five states achieved the distinction in both categories, with Arizona, Iowa, Kansas and Tennessee being the other four.
National Awards for Schools
School “5 of 5” Award
Sixteen JAG-Missouri programs received the “5 of 5” award. They include: Bolivar High School, Charleston High School, Farmington High School, Jennings Educational Training School (JETS), Lebanon Hillcrest Education Center, Roosevelt High School, Study Alternative High School in Springfield, Vashon High School in St. Louis, Central High School in Park Hills, East Carter High School, Jennings High School in St. Louis, Kennett High School, Risco High School, South Pemiscot High School in Steele, Sumner High School in St. Louis, and West Plains High School.
In addition, for the fourth 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 both the traditional high school programs and alternative programs: Graduation Rate; Total Civilian Job Placement and Military Service; Positive Outcomes; Full Time Jobs; and Total Full-Time Placement. For the Class of 2019, for example, the JAG National graduation rate goal for traditional high schools is 90 percent or higher. JAG-Missouri’s graduation rate was 98.73 percent.
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
The recipients include: Amanda Harvey, Smith-Cotton High School in Sedalia; Serrita Sydnor, Roosevelt High School; Suzanne Goodwin, Vashon High School; Kyle Johnson, Charleston High School; and Karla Tiefenthaler, North Wood Middle School in Salem.
High Performers
Those recognized include: Joan Dietrich, West Plains High School and Zizzer Academy alternative program; Erica Dement, Farmington High School; and Brandon Johnson, Hillcrest Education Center, Lebanon’s alternative program
Peak Performers
Those recognized include: Dr. Theresa Badgett, Jennings High School; Amanda Harvey, Smith-Cotton High School in Sedalia; Erica Dement, Farmington High School; Brandon Johnson, Hillcrest Education Center, Lebanon’s alternative program; Joan Dietrich, West Plains High School and Zizzer Academy, the alternative program; and the JAG staff at Mexico Alternative 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.”
JAG-Missouri
JAG-Missouri was founded in 1980. Because of its proven success, JAG-Missouri has grown from six programs in six schools serving 225 students in 2014-15 to serving 3,250 students in 87 programs in 60 schools in 2020-21. The Board of Directors is co-chaired by Governor Mike Parson and First Lady Teresa Parson, and Governor Parson is one of a dozen governors on the JAG National Board of Directors. The Board is committed to growing the program to serve more Missouri youth and the Board intends to continue providing the schools with approximately half the annual funding for the program, with the schools matching that funding.
Contact:
Paul Kincaid
Executive Director
(417) 425-5139