iJAG (Iowa Jobs for America’s Graduates) is a job and life skills course designed to give students an extra boost that will help them graduate and become employable community leaders.
iJAG specialists are not just teachers; they are also counselors, career coaches, and liaisons between students and other teachers, coaches, administrators, and social workers.
A course for juniors and seniors with no experience in iJAG. The class begins with a focus on teamwork and leadership traits, then moves into finding a job, from writing a resume and conducting a job search, to mock interviews with local HR professionals. The two-term class winds up with a quick overview of career planning.
A course for sophomores who may have previous experience with iJAG. The class focuses on teamwork and leadership skills throughout the semester. Emphasis is put on realistic career planning, as well as the decision-making process, taking responsibility for students’ actions, and soft skills such as how to get along with classmates. Using GEAR UP funds, students visit an out-of-town college each semester.
A course for juniors and seniors who’ve previously taken iJAG. The first term of this dual-credit course focuses on college: applications, scholarships, and financial aid, choosing the best school for the student, etc. The second term teaches students how to live independently after graduation, including budgeting, social responsibility, and how to rent an apartment or buy a car.
Want to know about the impact of I-JAG on our students? Click here to watch short videos of how I-JAG has had a lasting effect on our career paths.