The leader of the Perry Community School District highlights an educational program that helps set students up for success after graduation.

Superintendent Clark Wicks details that the school district offers the Iowa Jobs for America’s Graduates, or iJAG, Program for students in seventh through 12th grades that is committed to building meaningful partnerships across business, industry, and education to support students towards their goals. Wicks explains that during the May board meeting, iJAG Region Five Program Supervisor Emily Nelson, along with Josh Vannornam walked through the benefits it provides for individuals.

“Meeting one on one. A lot of data collection, and then working with businesses here in (the) Perry community. It’s a great program, it helps kids find out what kinds of careers they want to have and then giving them exposure to that.”

Wicks appreciates how the iJAG program supplies classroom and work-based learning experiences, academic support, and skill development in preparation for the future.