April 12th, 2023 marked a historic day for Decatur County school CTE Director, Dr. Lyndi King and Riverside JAGTN teacher, James Jones. As part of JAGTN's (Jobs for America's Graduates, Tennessee) day on the hill, Dr. King and Mr. Jones got to sit down and meet with Governor Bill Lee, Senator Kerri Roberts, and Representative Mary Littleton to discuss college and career readiness and how we can support students on their post-secondary journey. JAGTN fills that critical role for the students at Riverside high school and in multiple school systems across Tennessee. This program really focuses on education and post-secondary success as the way to a better life and to overcome whatever obstacles have been present in their lives.
"This program is near and dear to my heart because I have seen the profound impact it can have on students' lives and trajectory. When we began this program at RHS in 2021, we watched as students who had no plans for life after high school developed plans and worked towards the goal of being successful in whichever avenue they were choosing. We saw the power of having an invested adult work with these students through their Senior year to create goals and a plan and have followed up with them throughout the first year after graduation to offer support in continuing on the path towards achieving the goals," said Dr. King. JAGTN focuses on creating portfolios with students where they learn skills to use in the real world after graduation such as how to construct a resume, how to interview for a job, how to speak in public well, and how to budget for financial success.
"This is a much needed program that focuses on trauma informed care of the students while preparing them for success after high school. It truly is a special program and one that will only better our students and community as a whole." During the meetings with the Governor, Senator, and Representative, Dr. King had the opportunity to share success stories of JAGTN students at RHS and how the program impacts Decatur County. She was also able to thank the Governor for not only investing state funds into this program, but also for serving on the JAG National Board of Directors. Dr. King said they were able to have meaningful conversations about partnerships between school systems, the state DOE, and JAGTN about how to increase College and Career Readiness and supporting high school students in planning for future success.
A special thank you to JAGTN CEO and President, John Dwyer, for setting up these meetings and this day on the hill so that we are able to help many more high school students across Tennessee in the coming years. This program radiates passion and love for all students being successful in education and in life and continues its mission to impact young lives forever.
