Jobs for America’s Graduates Receives National Honors

JAG-SC Program Achieves “Extraordinary” High School Graduation Rate

COLUMBIA, SC – August 4, 2009 – The Jobs for America’s Graduates-South Carolina (JAG-SC) program took home national honors at a national conference for state JAG affiliates held last month in Atlanta.  JAG-SC was honored as a “Top State Organization for Multi-Year Programs” and several program leaders for JAG-SC were recognized at the 26th Annual National Training Seminar for Jobs for America’s Graduates. Among other awards, the state’s program was recognized as a top performing organization for its “Extraordinary Graduation Rate.” JAG-SC achieved a 92 percent graduation rate among its senior class in 2008-2009.  

“By providing a mentor to kids most at risk, JAG-SC is working to accomplish the critical function of keeping students in school and its success is evident by the national recognition our state’s program has received year after year. Additionally, this program continues to demonstrate its success in giving students practical skills that will prepare them to enter the workforce. Thanks to the commitment and efforts of career specialists and JAG-SC staff that are working diligently to help students prepare for the future, these students will continue to benefit now and in the years ahead,” said Joe Taylor, South Carolina Secretary of Commerce. 

JAG-SC was recognized as a “Top Performing State Organization” for the following categories: “Unable to Contact Rate” of zero for the class of 2008-2009, “Positive Outcomes Rate” for the class of 2008-2009 and “Extraordinary Graduation Rate” for the class of 2008-2009.  JAG-SC’s class of 2008-2009 was the first group of students to complete four years in the JAG-SC program and the senior class graduated 92 percent of its students.  

“We know that implementing education programs with a proven and measurable record of preparing young people for future careers is one of the keys to building a successful workforce by providing students with the skills they need to compete in today’s economy,” said Dr. Peggy Torrey, Deputy Secretary for Workforce Development.  “JAG-SC is an important part of our overall strategy for workforce development.” 

The program leaders for JAG-SC were also recognized in several areas.  Those recognized included:

• Lancaster High School in Lancaster County, Wade Hampton High School in Hampton County and Woodmont High School in Greenville County were recognized as a ‘5 of 5’ High Performance Club for exceeding all five national Standards for Graduation Rate, Total Job Placements, Positive Outcomes, Full-Time Placement and Full-Time Jobs.
• Dorothy Fore of Creek Bridge High School in Marion County, Terry Sanders of Wade Hampton High School in Hampton County, Clay Cohen of Chesnee High School in Spartanburg County and LaTonya Houston of McCormick High School in McCormick County were recognized as Outstanding Specialists for meeting/exceeding national standards along with the above and beyond contributions they have made to the JAG program.
• Terry Sanders of Wade Hampton High School in Hampton County and Sonya Allen of Lake Marion High School in Orangeburg County were recognized for Outstanding Retention Rate for having one of the JAG network’s highest “return to school” rates of 100 percent.
• Geraldine Sackiel of Calhoun High School in Calhoun County was recognized for a 100 percent graduation rate.

Two staff members, Terry Sanders of Wade Hampton High School in Hampton County and Terry Davis of Mullins High School in Marion County, also received scholarships from the Allstate Foundation to participate in their internationally renowned “Facing History and Ourselves” diversity training seminar.

Additionally, four JAG-SC representatives were recognized for leading “best practices” workshops at the conference.  These representatives were JAG-SC State Coordinator, Elaine Midkiff; Dorothy Fore of Creekbridge High School in Marion County; LaTonya Houston, of McCormick High School in McCormick County; and Carolyn Coleman of Chester High School in Chester County.

JAG-SC has received national recognition in years past as well. The program was honored as a “2007-2008 Top State Organization for Multi-Year Programs” at the 25th Annual National Training Seminar for Jobs for America’s Graduates.

JAG-SC

JAG-SC is a dropout prevention program for high school students that began in 2005 and is funded through the State Workforce Investment Board.  JAG-SC currently operates in 20 schools statewide. The program initially launched as a pilot project in 2005 utilizing State Workforce Investment Board funds in 14 schools.  Six additional schools were added in program year 2008-2009 through the underwriting support of the national Jobs for America’s Graduates and the South Carolina Department of Education, coupled with an additional four year grant awarded from the AT&T Foundation to operate JAG-SC’s first program in Richland County.