South Carolina leader selected for National Workforce Development Leadership Award
November 3, 2016
Mary jo Schmick, director of workforce programs for the S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce (DEW), has been selected to receive Jobs for America’s Graduates’ (JAG) National Workforce Development Leadership Award at the organization’s Special Recognition Reception, Nov. 9, 2016, in Washington D.C.
The award is presented each year to celebrate the extraordinary leadership and support for the JAG program, helping high-risk and disadvantaged young people succeed in school as well as in pursuit of a career and/or postsecondary education.
Schmick’s longstanding engagement in JAG-SC initiatives and her visionary leadership of the program have made the South Carolina program one of the most successful in the country. She has spearheaded the framework for a JAG State Advisory Committee, created a foundation for future growth of new and existing JAG-SC models, and been an active part of training and preparing personnel to assist with program expansion.
“We are so proud of Mary jo and thankful for the work that she is doing for South Carolinians. Her hard work and vision for the JAG program is paying off by helping many of the state’s high-risk students stay in school and become successful,” said Cheryl Stanton, executive director for the S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce. “We congratulate Mary jo on a job well done.”
JAG is a dropout prevention program focused on academic success and career-readiness skills. JAG-SC is administered by the DEW. In its 12th year of service delivery, the program has assisted more than 9,500 youth and currently serves 1,110 active high school participants.
Under Schmick’s leadership, JAG-SC was awarded several top honors at the 2016 National Training Seminar this past summer. For the sixth consecutive year, the JAG-SC program was been awarded the National Jag 5-of-5 Award for exceeding five of the national standards for graduation rate, school placement rates, total positive outcomes rate, job placement rates and full-time jobs rates. In addition, out of the 33-state network of JAG programs, South Carolina received the following placement in each category:
- 2nd Place – Full-Time Jobs
- 2nd Place – Positive Outcomes Rate (Jobs and/or Further Education)
- 3rd Place – Graduation Rate
- 3rd Place – Retention Rate
- 4th Place – Full-Time Placement (Jobs and/or School)
- 6th Place – Further Education Rate
Twenty-two JAG-SC representatives, specialists and staff members attended the annual training seminar with many of them receiving national individual awards.
About JAG
Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG) is a state-based national non-profit organization dedicated to preventing dropouts among young people who are most at-risk. In more than three decades of operation, JAG has helped more than one million young people stay in school through graduation, pursuit of postsecondary education and securing quality entry-level jobs leading to career advancement opportunities. JAG-SC is a program run by the South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce (SCDEW) and is a proven dropout prevention program assisting some the state’s most deserving youth in graduating from high school and moving confidently toward the realization of their dreams.
About DEW
The S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce (DEW) is putting South Carolinians to work. The agency invests in building a pipeline of quality workers, matches workers with jobs, and is a bridge for individuals who find themselves out of work for no fault of their own. This promotes financial stability and economic prosperity for employers, individuals and communities. DEW is dedicated to advancing South Carolina through services that meet the needs of the state’s businesses, jobseekers and those looking to advance their careers.
