For students at Adair County High School, preparing for life after graduation means more than earning a diploma.
Through Jobs for America’s Graduates, students are learning how to navigate the responsibilities, challenges and opportunities that come with adulthood.
JAG has been a part of ACHS for approximately five years.
The program, known at the school as the Career Association, focuses on helping students overcome barriers while developing skills for education, employment and life.
Robyn Mantooth, who is in her second year as the school’s JAG specialist, said the program gives students an opportunity to learn skills they may not always encounter in a traditional classroom.
“One of the biggest benefits is that students get to practice real-life skills that they will actually use after high school,” Mantooth said.
Those skills include career exploration, job searching, completing applications, writing resumes, interviewing, professional communication, financial literacy, leadership, teamwork and community service.
Students also learn about practical situations they may encounter as they enter the workforce and become more independent, including professional dress, dining etiquette, communicating with employers and managing money.
For Mantooth, however, one of the most rewarding aspects of JAG is watching students grow personally.
“Sometimes I feel less like a traditional teacher and more like a mentor or counselor, and that is something I really enjoy,” Mantooth said.
Before joining JAG, Mantooth spent approximately 20 years teaching English.
Her role with JAG has allowed her to continue teaching while approaching education from a different perspective.
Instead of focusing solely on academic skills, Mantooth works with students on the skills they will need once they leave the classroom.
“I have watched students become more social, gain confidence, become more comfortable with public speaking, take on leadership roles, and become more active in their community,” she said.
JAG students also have opportunities to put those skills into practice through competitions.
Students can compete in areas such as public speaking, employability skills, career preparation and leadership.
The competitions are offered at the regional, state and national levels, giving students the chance to represent ACHS and their JAG program while stepping outside their comfort zones.
But the impact of JAG does not end when students graduate.
Mantooth makes an effort to remain in contact with her seniors for approximately a year after graduation.
She said those conversations give her the opportunity to hear about students’ experiences in college, the military, the workforce and other paths they have chosen.
“I love hearing about their jobs, college, military experiences, and other things they are doing after high school,” Mantooth said.
For Mantooth, those relationships are among the most meaningful parts of the program.
She said staying connected allows her to see students continue to grow as they become more independent and begin establishing their own futures.
“I hope my students know that even after they graduate, I am still cheering for them and want to see them succeed,” she said.
Although individual students have left lasting impressions on her, Mantooth said she could not identify just one as having made the greatest impact.
Every student who comes through JAG contributes something to the program, she said, and watching their development is one of the reasons she enjoys her role.
JAG also encourages students to give back to the community.
Through the Career Association and community service projects, students have opportunities to use their time and talents to help others.
Mantooth said that service is an important part of what the program teaches.
“JAG is about much more than getting students ready for a job,” she said. “We are preparing students for life.”
That preparation includes learning how to communicate, solve problems, work with others, advocate for themselves, handle professional situations and believe in their own abilities.
Mantooth said students sometimes need encouragement before they are ready to recognize their own potential.
“Sometimes students need someone to believe in them before they are ready to believe in themselves,” she said. “I think JAG gives us the opportunity to be that person for students.”
As students prepare for graduation and whatever comes next, the goal of JAG extends beyond helping them find their first job.
The program seeks to help students understand both what they can accomplish and what they can contribute.
“Success isn’t just about what you can get – it is also about what you can give,” Mantooth said.
By Lily Coots
reporter@adairvoice.com
