By: Flora Wade
A new semester brings new opportunities for Salem High Schoolers, with the addition of a new course that prepares them for academic and economic success.
Jobs for America's Graduates (JAG) is an organization that helps to model a classroom around project based learning, employer engagement and community services, as well as preparing students for life after graduation.
Freshmen, sophomores and juniors had the opportunity to take JAG second semester in 2024. Next school year, in August, seniors are able to join as well.
JAG is not just another college career course you have to take in high school, it is a gateway to full time jobs and further education after graduation. Statistics show that students have an 84% chance of having a full time job, 52% further education rate and an overall 95% graduation rate, after taking JAG classes.
Tara Kritzer is the JAG specialist for SHS and has already made an important impact on the students who take the course. For students who don´t have a set path for their desired future, Kritzer makes it happen. She said, ¨I am very passionate about helping kids know, and have a good grasp, on what it is they want to do.¨
Each month, students have a new project that revolves around community involvement and services. Donation boxes were placed around the school and filled with items to give to Salem Crossing. Students also wrote letters to SMS teachers filled with encouragement for a January service project. Most recently, JAG went to Bradie Shrum Elementary and read to the classes.
Alongside the projects, the classes recently attended a Career Development Conference at Ivy Tech Community College. At Ivy Tech, JAG was involved in a career fair, attended many workshops and they had the opportunity to try a virtual reality welding simulator. After sitting down and discussing what they had learned many sparks were lit, and many ideas were shared regarding the future pathways of the students.
"It's really neat to see that light go on when discussing these students' futures and they're leaning into you with a spark of excitement," said Kritzer.
Classes like these create an important synergy between peers and teachers. Kritzer believes that relationships are a key component in employability and a classroom.
¨A part of my job is going out into the community and meeting with employers like GKN, Ascension St. Vincent and getting my students that connection,¨ she said searching for jobs outside of school is just as important to JAG specialists, like Kritzer, as it is discussing future plans inside of the classroom.
This connection is a perfect head start to get new graduates on their feet in the workforce. SHS students are now more equipped to start job shadowing, because of JAG classes.
Junior Angelia Overburg said, "I've been introduced to this program before but now that I've been in the program, I'd have to say this program is an amazing opportunity for anyone who needs help or wants to help the community."
Futures hold big changes, and Salem High School continues to show support for those new changes by making some of their own. Adding classes like JAG sets new pathway opportunities to benefit students and the community.
Sophomore Gabrielle Curtis said, "JAG is definitely new to my school but this program has already given me highly effective employability skills."
It is important to keep the light within the students growing. The JAG program has only been taught at Salem for a few weeks, but it has already made an impact big enough to change students' lives forever.