Students spotlighted after representing Jenkins at East Kentucky Leadership forum

The Jenkins Independent Board of Education recognized a group of students April 28 for representing the district at the East Kentucky Leadership forum, praising their presentations and community engagement. Principal Wendy (speaking for the elementary and middle-high schools) and district staff described students’ ability to articulate what the community needs to retain young people.

Staff member Steve Meeks, introduced as the district’s college-and-career navigator, said students ‘‘told these community leaders, guys, this is what we need,’’ and reported emotional responses from attendees. A staff presenter summarized the students’ message bluntly: ‘‘I can’t come back here because the field that I want to go into, those jobs don’t exist.’’ The district noted that students urged business and political leaders to create local career opportunities so graduates will return.

District officials offered tangible follow-up: videos and student biographies are available to board members for further review, and staff encouraged community leaders to consider programmatic and workforce steps that could create local jobs. The board and administrators framed the visit as part of the district’s broader college-and-career work and said it reinforces the district’s focus on connecting instruction to community needs.