(Atlantic, Iowa) – The School Board in Atlantic, this week, heard a presentation from iJAG instructor Guy Somers. IJAG stands for “Iowa Jobs for America’s Graduates.” The Atlantic School Board approved participation in iJAG in April, 2021. The program for High School Juniors and Seniors connects businesses and education, to provide the most cost-effective dropout prevention and school career solutions.

Somers introduced Brianna “Bree” Atkins to the School Board. He said she’s the district’s longest-tenured iJAG student. She spoke from a student’s perspective about the program. Somers said he didn’t have to ask her to talk about iJAG, she volunteered. Bree said the program has helped her to become a better person and taken her out of her “comfort zone,” with regard to public speaking and in other areas. She credited Somers with taking her through that phase of her personal development, in the iJAG program.

She said Mr. Somers helped her to get a job following an apprenticeship. She spoke also about an iJAG community service project to reorganize the Clothing Closet, which provides students in school with appropriate clothing if what they are wearing is deemed inappropriate for the classroom environment.

She said also, she attended a leadership conference last year.

She said iJAG is a really fun class, and had high praise for Guy Somers.

Guy Somers said he had 19 students in iJAG last semester, which he said, is low compared to the previously registered number. The program helped to increase most student’s grades in other classes, but not all. He says he’s working to turn those numbers around.

He said 12.5-percent of iJAG graduates went-on to further their education at college.