JHS Instructors Honored for Service to Students in JAG Program

Joplin High School instructors Vallie Cook and Jeanetta Moss will be recognized during Tuesday’s Board of Education meeting for their service to students enrolled in the Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG) program during the 2005-2006 school year. The program began at Joplin High School last year and boasted a student retention rate of nearly 85% thanks to the hard work and dedication of these instructors.

JAG is a nationally known school-to-career transition program that aims to keep young people in school through graduation and to provide them with work-based learning experiences that will lead to career advancement opportunities. The courses that Moss and Cook teach each day help students to develop a variety of life skills and career skills, including successful job interviewing.

“The ladies help many of their students earn credits through monitoring progress and providing support services to help them reach their goal of graduation,” says JHS Assistant Principal Keith White, who supervises the program.

Moss and Cook were recently honored for their work at a national JAG conference held in Atlanta, Georgia. Moss received an Act of Kindness award for providing academic and personal assistance to help students remain in school, and Cook was honored as a High Performing Specialist for her work helping students succeed, graduate, and obtain employment.

“Vallie Cook and Jeanetta Moss went far above the call of duty to ensure student success,” says JHS Principal Dr. Kerry Sachetta. “Babysitting at a moment’s notice for a student who could not get to night school to make up credits, taking students to see their parents, helping students get the help they need to attain US citizenship – the list goes on and on with heartfelt stories of assistance.”

(posted 09/06/06)