DWD: Jobs for America's Graduates (JAG)

WHAT IS JAG?

The Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG) program is a state-based, national non-profit organization dedicated to helping high school students of promise who have experienced challenging or traumatic life experiences achieve success through graduation.

JAG is a resiliency-building workforce program that helps students learn in-demand employability skills and provides a bridge to post-secondary education and career advancement opportunities. Currently there are 250 JAG programs available throughout Indiana.

JAG students receive adult mentoring while in school and one year of follow-up counseling after graduation.

Indiana’s program consistently graduates approximately 95% of participants and many students choose to continue their education after high school. The JAG program is funded through grants provided by the Indiana Department of Workforce Development.

Get connected with a JAG team member today!

Ready to become a JAG school? Fill out our survey.

Picture of Former Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb

Former Governor Eric Holcomb and several legislators attended to meet students, celebrate their success across the state, and learn more about JAG Indiana.

The education and training provided through JAG Indiana has prepared thousands of young Hoosiers for success after high school and opened doors to positive education career and personal outcomes that will impact their lives forever.

-Former Governor and JAG National Board Member
Eric J. Holcomb

WHAT DOES JAG MEAN TO YOU?

HISTORY OF JAG INDIANA

2006 - 2007
Governor Mitch Daniels implements the JAG model to address the growing dropout crisis in the state.
JAG Indiana serves 217 students at 12 in-school programs statewide.
2007 - 2008
JAG Indiana serves 355 students at 13 in-school programs.
The first cohort of 57 students earn their High School diplomas and complete JAG program.
65% go on to full-time work and 46% pursue post-secondary training.
2008 - 2009
JAG Indiana grows extensively to 35 in-school programs.
2009 - 2010
Expansion continues as JAG Indiana grows to 58 in-school programs.
The first out-of-school dropout-recovery programs are formed in southwest Indiana.
2010- 2011
Out-of-School model expands to southeastern Indiana and Indianapolis.
2011 - 2012
Expansion continues as JAG Indiana grows to 59 in-school programs.
2012 - 2013
JAG Indiana continues to operate 59 in-school programs that serve 1939 students. Follow-up services were provided to an additional 1089 students.
North Central Indiana adds the out-of-school model.
JAG Indiana achieves a statewide graduation rate of 90.1%.
2013 - 2014
Governor Mike Pence and State Legislators approve state funding of $12M to expand JAG Indiana over two years.
JAG Indiana expands by 47 new in-school programs for a total of 103 Multi-Year and Alternative Education programs and operates 12 out-of-school programs.
2014 - 2015
JAG Indiana operates 106 in school and alternative school programs and 12 out-of-school programs.
JAG Indiana achieves the highest graduation rate in state’s history-93% (class of 2013-2014).
2015 - 2016
Governor Mike Pence and State Legislators approve state funding of $11.6M to support JAG Indiana over the next two years.
JAG IN awarded 4 Ken Smith National Scholarships, the highest amongst the 32 JAG states.
JAG Indiana receives Statewide 5 of 5 Award.
2016 - 2017
JAG Indiana celebrates 10 Years at Indiana Statehouse with keynote and recent JAG National Board appointee, Governor Eric Holcomb.
State Legislators approve $16M in state funding to support JAG Indiana over the next two years.
JAG Indiana achieves highest graduation rate in state’s history; 95% for the Class of 2015-2016.
2017 - 2018
Governor Eric Holcomb is elected JAG National Board Chair. Governor Holcomb pledges to expand JAG Indiana during his State of State Address.
JAG Indiana begins two College Success Program models through a partnership with Ivy Tech Community College and Strada Education Network.
2017 - 2018 cont.
JAG Indiana is awarded three Ken Smith National Scholarships and two Ken Smith Leadership Scholarships.
JAG Indiana hosts National Board Meeting in Indianapolis and presents its Strategic Growth Plan.
2018 - 2019
JAG College Success Program expands to Vincennes University.
JAG Indiana hits prestigious 5 of 5 metric for 5th consecutive year.
Indiana sees a record of 5 JAG students names as Ken Smith Scholars.
JAG Indiana students graduate at a record 96%.
Governor Holcomb serves as JAG National Chair.
2019 - 2020
JAG Indiana hosts first-ever virtual Career Development Conference.
Record number of JAG Indiana students compete in regional and state Career Development Conference.
Governor Holcomb serves as a member on the JAG National Board.
Four JAG Indiana students are named as Ken Smith Scholars. Four JAG Indiana students earn national T-Mobile scholarships.
2020 - 2021
A record eight JAG Indiana students are named Ken Smith Scholars.
JAG Indiana virtual Career Development Conference reaches over 2,500 people.
Governor Holcomb continues to serve on JAG National Board; JAG Indiana students earn over $19 million in scholarship money
2021 - 2022
Seven JAG Indiana students earn national Ken Smith Scholarships Avon student one of five nationally to win $10,000 scholarship.
JAG Indiana earns prestigious 5 of 5 distinction for 6th year in the last 7.
2022 - 2023
JAG Indiana achieves 6 of 6 national distinction for outcomes.
Governor Holcomb commits to doubling JAG Indiana programs by Spring 2025.
2023 - 2024
JAG Indiana students graduate at a record rate of 97%.
JAG achieves Gov. Holcomb’s goal of doubling programming to 250 to serve an additional 10,000 students in middle schools, high schools and colleges.

THE JAG INDIANA TEAM

REGIONAL STAFF

Name	Phone	Email	Counties Served
Michelle Truswell	574-772-6882	Mtruswell@gotoworkonenw.com	Jasper, Lake, LaPorte, Newton, Porter, Pulaski, and Starke
Savannah Quezada	317-450-1615	Savannah.Quezada@gotoworkone.com	Elkhart, Fulton, Kosciusko, Marshall, and St. Joseph
Rachel Bryant	260-760-2984	rachelbryant@mybrightpoint.org	Adams, Allen, Dekalb, Grant, Huntington, LaGrange, Noble, Steuben, Wabash, Wells, and Whitley
Shaun Brames	812-396-8925	sbrames@workonewestcentral.org	Carroll, Cass, Clinton, Fountain, Frankfort, Howard, Miami, Montgomery, Tippecanoe, Tipton, and White
Sara Beth Meyers	317-818-0846	smeyers@workonecentral.org	Boone, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks, Johnson, Madison, Morgan, and Shelby
McKennzie Beckedahl	812-290-4851	mbeckedahl@easternindianaworks.org	Blackford, Delaware, Fayette, Henry, Jay, Randolph, Rush, Union, and Wayne
Kim Snodgrass	765-592-4277	ksnodgrass@vinu.edu	Clay, Parke, Putnam, Sullivan, Vermillion, and Vigo
Sam Perkins	812-675-7579	Samuel.perkins@vinu.edu	Brown, Daviess, Greene, Lawrence, Martin, Monroe, Orange, and Owen
Kristal Biehle	812-569-1776	kristal@rivervalleyresources.com	Bartholomew, Dearborn, Decatur, Franklin, Jackson, Jefferson, Jennings, Ohio, Ripley, and Switzerland
Laura Lowe	812-722-7157	llowe@soinworks.com	Clark, Crawford, Floyd, Harrison, Scott, and Washington
Chrissy Ash	812-403-0116	cash@jobworksinc.org	Dubois, Gibson, Knox, Perry, Pike, Posey, Spencer, Vanderburgh, and Warrick
Beth Bowling	317-713-7614	bbowling@employindy.org	Marion

STATE ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF

Name	Position	Email
Bart Doan	Assistant Director of Youth Initiatives	bdoan@dwd.in.gov
Brianna Morse	Director Youth Initiatives and JAG National Lead	Bmorse1@dwd.in.gov
Cherish Shafer	Field Support Manager, Northern Indiana	cshafer1@dwd.in.gov
Christine Shaffer	Manager of Professional Development	cshaffer@dwd.in.gov
Derek Morgan	Statewide Training Coordinator	demorgan@dwd.in.gov
Jennifer Robinson	Field Support Manager, Southern Indiana	jenrobinson@dwd.in.gov
Kristina Henderson	Employer Engagement and Outreach Director	khenderson@dwd.in.gov
Laura Wheeler	Associate Director of Quality Assurance	lwheeler@dwd.in.gov
Sara Ferguson	Field Support Manager, Central Indiana	saferguson@dwd.in.gov

Contact Us

General Information

Jobs for America’s Graduates
Indiana Department of Workforce Development
10 North Senate Avenue, Room 203
Indianapolis, IN 46204
P: (317) 233-6815
JAGIndiana@dwd.in.gov

WHAT IS JAG?

WHAT DOES JAG MEAN TO YOU?

HISTORY OF JAG INDIANA

2006 - 2007

2007 - 2008

2008 - 2009

2009 - 2010

2010- 2011

2011 - 2012

2012 - 2013

2013 - 2014

2014 - 2015

2015 - 2016

2016 - 2017

2017 - 2018

2017 - 2018 cont.

2018 - 2019

2019 - 2020

2020 - 2021

2021 - 2022

2022 - 2023

2023 - 2024

THE JAG INDIANA TEAM

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