Jobs for Alabama's Graduates
Beth Fair is an Alabama JAG Specialist dedicated to empowering students with the skills, confidence, and leadership development needed for success after high school. Through the Jobs for America's Graduates (JAG) model, she provides career readiness instruction, hands-on learning experiences, and individualized support to help students explore career pathways, develop employability skills, and achieve their personal goals.
A native of Lowndes County and a proud product of the Lowndes County School System, Beth understands firsthand the importance of strong community support and educational opportunity. She is a graduate of Alabama A&M University, where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Forestry with a minor in Wildlife Science.
With several years of experience in youth development programs, Beth has created meaningful, hands-on learning opportunities that prepare young people for real-world success. She brings gainful knowledge from working across various industries and uses that experience to expose students to the wide range of career pathways available to them. Her passion lies in helping youth recognize their potential, broaden their vision, and confidently pursue futures aligned with their skills, interests, and purpose.
What is JAG?
Jobs for Alabama’s Graduates (JAG) identifies and provides educational support and success strategies for Alabama’s highest at-risk students. We partner JAG-eligible students with our Educational Specialists who mentor, equip, and provide the support needed to graduate and succeed after high school.
JAG is unique in that it serves students often overlooked. JAG-eligible students can face up to 33 barriers to success, including circumstances such as incarcerated parents, health problems, homelessness, having a dependent child or children in the home, or having a disability.
Our Programs Help Students Graduate
The JAG Multi-Year Program lasts up to 60 months and includes over 700 hours of professional JAG specialist support. Prospective students are identified in middle school and begin the JAG program in their 9th grade year and continue through graduation. This early intervention including classroom instruction, counseling, employability skills development, and job placement services results in a graduate with a quality job or enrollment in a post-secondary education and training program to further their career pursuit.
JAG I, JAG II, JAG III, JAG IV, & JAG V are courses Offered at both Central High School and Calhoun High School.
Jobs for Alabama Graduates (JAG) Syllabus
An Education Model Designed for Unique Student Support
Once the students are identified, the JAG Model is implemented by a JAG Specialist who works in-school with 60 students all on the pursuit of a high school diploma, a quality entry-level job that leads to a career, and/or post-secondary education.
JAG-Alabama is delivered through two model programs: Senior Only and Multi-Year programs. JAG Model programs identify students who are most at risk and possess a significant number of barriers to staying in school (there are 33 barriers that define an at-risk student).
The purpose of the Jobs for Alabama Graduates Career Association (JAGCA) is to help members explore career pathways, to assess the opportunities and appropriateness of pursuing further education, to connect members with representatives of their chosen pathway, to develop their knowledge and skills, to secure employment in a job, and to demonstrate their ability to enter and advance with the employer.
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Jobs for Alabama’s Graduates (JAG) identifies and provides educational support and success strategies for Alabama’s highest at-risk students. We partner JAG-eligible students with our Educational Specialists who mentor, equip, and provide the support needed to graduate and succeed after high school.
JAG is unique in that it serves students often overlooked. JAG-eligible students can face up to 33 barriers to success, including circumstances such as incarcerated parents, health problems, homelessness, having a dependent child or children in the home, or having a disability.
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Our Programs Help Students Graduate
The JAG Multi-Year Program lasts up to 60 months and includes over 700 hours of professional JAG specialist support. Prospective students are identified in middle school and begin the JAG program in their 9th grade year and continue through graduation. This early intervention including classroom instruction, counseling, employability skills development, and job placement services results in a graduate with a quality job or enrollment in a post-secondary education and training program to further their career pursuit.
JAG I, JAG II, JAG III, JAG IV, & JAG V are courses Offered at both Central High School and Calhoun High School.
Jobs for Alabama Graduates (JAG) Syllabus
-
An Education Model Designed for Unique Student Support
Once the students are identified, the JAG Model is implemented by a JAG Specialist who works in-school with 60 students all on the pursuit of a high school diploma, a quality entry-level job that leads to a career, and/or post-secondary education.
JAG-Alabama is delivered through two model programs: Senior Only and Multi-Year programs. JAG Model programs identify students who are most at risk and possess a significant number of barriers to staying in school (there are 33 barriers that define an at-risk student).
-
The purpose of the Jobs for Alabama Graduates Career Association (JAGCA) is to help members explore career pathways, to assess the opportunities and appropriateness of pursuing further education, to connect members with representatives of their chosen pathway, to develop their knowledge and skills, to secure employment in a job, and to demonstrate their ability to enter and advance with the employer.
Barriers to Success
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ACADEMIC BARRIERS
- One or more modal grades behind peers.
- Has repeated a grade in high school.
- Low academic performance (a grade point of C or below or basic academic skills in the bottom quartile of the class).
- Basic skills deficient (reading and math in particular).
- Limited English proficiency.
- Failed state proficiency exam.
- Past record of excessive absences as verified by school officials.
- Has been suspended, expelled, or put on probation during high school.
- Has dropped out of school previously.
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ENVIRONMENTAL BARRIERS
- Family environment is not conducive to education or career goals.
- Mother did not graduate from high school.
- Father did not graduate from high school.
- Mother does not work.
- Father does not work.
- Is pregnant (when admitted to the program).
- Has dependent child or children in the home.
- Is parenting.
- Has documented alcohol and/or substance abuse.
- Convicted of a criminal offense other than a traffic violation.
- Has a record of violent behavior.
- Is homeless.
- Is a runaway.
- Requires child care during work or school.
- Needs transportation to and from work or school.
- Is in foster care.
- Child of incarcerated parent.
- Child of a migrant worker.
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INCOME AND WORK-RELATED BARRIERS
- Is an economically disadvantaged student as defined by public assistance, AFDC, or free lunch.
- Is a member of a race/ethnic group with a low family income.
- Has inadequate or no work experience.
- Lacks marketable occupational skills that are in demand in the local labor market.
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PERSONAL BARRIERS
- Special education certified (verified by school district or agency).
- Lacks motivation or maturity to pursue education or career goals.
- Emotional disorder that impairs education or career goals.
- Has a documented disability.
- Health problems that impair education or career goals.
5 Fundamental Goals
Leadership Development
The NCA chapter provides members with a variety of experiences and activities that will develop valuable leadership qualities through individual and group meetings; election of chapter and state officers; leadership training workshops; and meetings with community leaders.
Career Development
Prepares members for careers and employability through career awareness and employee engagement activities.
Social Awareness
Provides social awareness activities to help members gain knowledge of social graces, poise, and professional etiquette through recreational activities, image building projects, field trips, workshop presentations, and participation in school, community, and social programs. Social activities provide a valuable outlet for student enthusiasm, motivation, and membership interaction.
Civic Awareness
Provides opportunities for involvement in the community, visits to government offices, civic appearances, and campaign and election activities.
Community Service
Provides activities to help members learn to think of others, give their time, and make an impact in their community.
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Leadership Development
The NCA chapter provides members with a variety of experiences and activities that will develop valuable leadership qualities through individual and group meetings; election of chapter and state officers; leadership training workshops; and meetings with community leaders.
-
Career Development
Prepares members for careers and employability through career awareness and employee engagement activities.
-
Social Awareness
Provides social awareness activities to help members gain knowledge of social graces, poise, and professional etiquette through recreational activities, image building projects, field trips, workshop presentations, and participation in school, community, and social programs. Social activities provide a valuable outlet for student enthusiasm, motivation, and membership interaction.
-
Civic Awareness
Provides opportunities for involvement in the community, visits to government offices, civic appearances, and campaign and election activities.
-
Community Service
Provides activities to help members learn to think of others, give their time, and make an impact in their community.