Carroll County High School is kicking off a new opportunity for students this year with the addition of the Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG) program. While JAG is well-established in Kentucky and across the United States, this is the first time the program has been offered at Carroll County.
To celebrate the start of the program, CCHS will host a kickoff ceremony on Tuesday, Sept. 17 at 6 p.m. The event will feature the induction of the program’s first Career Association officers and a keynote address by guest speaker Donald Kaufmann. Community members are also invited, as JAG aims to connect students with local businesses, colleges, and career opportunities through field trips and guest presentations.
The program, a nonprofit initiative, is designed to help students develop the skills and confidence they need to succeed after high school. JAG focuses on teaching practical life and job skills, while also identifying and addressing barriers that might prevent students from thriving in college, career, or the military.
“This program is all about the kids,” said Jaelyn Robinson, the JAG specialist at Carroll County High School. “The curriculum is directed toward them so they learn what they’re most interested in. Whether it’s financial literacy, career exploration, or job hunting, I can tie the lessons to their goals and needs.”
Students can enroll in JAG as an elective class, and once they join, they continue through the program until graduation. With about 50 students participating across five class periods, the program currently includes students from all grade levels, with most being sophomores and juniors.
So far, students have explored career paths, learned human relations skills, customer service qualities, and college applications and essays. Future topics could include budgeting, apartment hunting, how to pay bills and file taxes, and even how to write résumés and cover letters.
Beyond the classroom, every JAG student is also a member of the Career Association, a student-led club that provides opportunities to compete in regional, state, and national events. Competitions showcase skills like public speaking, project-based learning, and job application preparation.
“One of the barriers we often see is that students have never been involved in school activities before,” Robinson explained. “The Career Association gives them a chance to step into leadership roles and gain confidence.”
Ultimately, the goal of JAG is simple but powerful: to make the transition from high school to adulthood a little easier. “This program doesn’t benefit me or even the school directly,” Robinson said. “It benefits the students. It’s about giving them the tools and experiences they need to succeed in whatever comes next.”