HODGDON, Maine — Teaching essential life skills in a classroom setting has been the focus of the JMG program at Hodgdon Middle-High School for a number of years.
So what exactly does the JMG program do?
“JMG provides students a chance to understand and increase learning of teamwork, career building, life skills, and how to transition to be real world ready by the time they graduate,” explained Jason Little, Hodgdon’s JMG instructor. “We meet students where they are at and work to encourage them to step out of their comfort zones through team-building initiatives, public speaking opportunities, and community service projects.”
JMG — previously known as Jobs for Maine Grads — was created in 1993 and continues as a nonprofit working with students in a public education setting. There are 91 JMG programs throughout the state, working with 6,500 students, but representation in Aroostook County is not as prevalent. Houlton, Caribou and Fort Kent are the only other school districts in Aroostook County that have JMG programs.
Little is in his first year with JMG at Hodgdon, but the school has had a long history with the program. The program began with Dave Rowe, Berny Reece and Kara Wright each taking turns with the program through the first 10 years.
“Those three set a strong program with the school administration and JMG administration,” Little said. “It was so strong that one event created back in 2002 (the Veteran’s Day Breakfast) continues on as a Hodgdon JMG-sponsored event.”
JMG programs can be found across the state (middle school, high school, and college) at 91 programs, working with over 6,500 students.
“The curriculum provided by JMG to each specialist is flexible and adaptable to allow for team building, guest speakers, tours of businesses, special event planning, and various other work/community service projects to be incorporated into the classroom time,” said Little, who also was a part of the JMG program for one year in high school.
According to its website, JMG partners with Maine’s public middle and high schools, community colleges, and the university system to help students reach their fullest potential. JMG is the only nonprofit in Maine offering a continuum of support to help students transition from middle school through high school graduation, onto post-secondary education through degree attainment and connections to successful career pathways.
JMG programs are hosted within Maine’s public schools, and classes and year-round activities are led by JMG specialists who serve as mentors and educators. Specialists are able to develop student-centered, personalized education plans, delivered through a competency-based curriculum focusing on academic knowledge, career development skills, leadership, and teamwork.
Alex Nightingale, a senior at Hodgdon Middle-High School, serves as president for the group.
“JMG is one of the only classes in high school that really teaches you important life skills, like balancing a budget, how to write checks, and how to get involved in your community,” Nightingale said.
At Hodgdon, there are 40 total students enrolled in the program, including six seniors — Noah Nash, Daden Palmer, Leigh Jurson, Taylor Desrosiers, Mercedez Brown and Nightingale.
“This program has certainly taught me some important life skills,” Desrosiers said. “I had no idea how to do things like write a check or balance the checkbook.”
JMG increases high school graduation rates, college retention, and degree attainment. It prepares students for successful careers after graduation by helping them overcome academic, financial, and social barriers, according to the JMG website.
“It empowers Maine students and models Maine’s next generation of young leaders, providing them with a toolbox of skills, knowledge, and best practices that they can use throughout their lives to achieve self-sufficiency, pursue their aspirations, and attain success. Each JMG student leaves the classroom with pride, direction, and a clearer sense of what they want out of life and how they are going to achieve it.”
The JMG high school core program is offered in partnership with public schools, and all programs are offered as a for-credit course. The primary objective of the core program is to keep students fully engaged in high school through graduation, leading to enrollment in postsecondary education, a continued education credential or training program, or a quality job with a career pathway.
Through classroom instruction and a student-centered personalized learning approach, JMG specialists help students reach their fullest potential through academic support and building skills to ensure students are successful beyond high school. Students have the opportunity to learn critical skills in leadership, teamwork, written communications, public speaking, time management, personal finance, work habits, and career development. The JMG model also includes community service and philanthropic components, teaching students about the importance of good citizenship and giving back.
“I think this program will help me when I go off to college,” Jurson said. “Especially with my learning disability, I think it has helped me a lot with moving forward and trying new things. It’s been a great experience.”
