JAG instructors tell Caldwell Parish board program boosts job skills and confidence; board moves to commend staff

Justin Prim and Stacy Morgan, instructors for the Jobs for America's Graduates (JAG) program, gave the Caldwell Parish School Board a detailed update on their class, saying the program provides sustained one-on-one support, community service projects and workplace skills for students who face barriers to employment.

Prim described activities ranging from field trips to local businesses to having students conduct mock job interviews; he said 18 junior-high students participated in job interviews the same day as the presentation and praised their performance. He told the board the program spends “the next 8 to nine months really figuring out everything about them,” teaching nonverbal communication, resume writing and budgeting exercises to prepare students for the workforce.

Stacy Morgan, who said this is her first year teaching JAG at the district, detailed classroom projects such as a "build a bridge" engineering exercise and a unit on gross pay and budgeting. Morgan said the class had recently hosted a recruiter from Lincoln Tech and that the program is building partnerships to connect students with postsecondary options and employers.

Board members and attendees emphasized the program's practical benefits. One board member urged the board to protect the program if district budget pressures arise, noting that JAG serves students who might otherwise be overlooked. Prim and Morgan both said the board contributes funding but that the program requires continued support.

Following the presentation a board member proposed a unanimous resolution commending the JAG instructors and the program. The board signaled support for presenting a copy of the recognition to the instructors.

The board took no recorded budget vote specific to JAG during this meeting; members discussed that preserving the program should be a priority if future cuts are considered.