By Paige Gurgainers
There is no denying that City of Minden Councilman Carlton “Buddy” Myles has stepped into his role as a representative for District A with grace and positivity. Along with being a councilman, Myles also owns his own business, Seafood Empire, and is seen out in the community showing support to other local businesses on an almost weekly basis. He not only represents his District well, but the entirety of the City of Minden and now Myles has decided to use his capabilities and experience outside of the city- and even outside of Webster Parish. He can now add another job title to his ever-growing list – JAG Specialist for the Claiborne Parish School Board.
JAG, or Jobs for America’s Graduates, is a non-profit program operating nationwide with a state-based focus, committed to aiding youth in achieving academic and economic success. JAG is led by a public/private partnership at the national level. Governed by Governors, Fortune 500 executives, and national community leaders. JAG originated in Delaware in 1980. Presently, it operates in 36 states, having positively impacted tens of thousands in Louisiana and over 1.5 million nationwide.
“Honestly, when initially offered the opportunity, I wasn’t entirely convinced about becoming a JAG Specialist,” Myles admitted. “However, after prayer and numerous conversations with God, I received confirmation that this is where I belong. Now, having been in this role for a few weeks, I am certain of it.”
There are three JAG program models – the In-School model, the Middle School model, and the Out-of-School model. The In-School model caters to high school students in a classroom setting, focusing on graduation, career exploration, and the development of employability skills.
“The Middle School model, which is what I will be a part of, emphasizes career exploration, study skills, and academic remediation,” said Myles.
The Out-of-School model serves participants aged 17 to 21 who have dropped out of school. The emphasis is on completing the high school equivalency diploma, improving employment prospects, and exploring post-secondary institutions or job opportunities leading to a sustainable career.
Myles admits he did not have any involvement in implementing this program but was recently approached with the opportunity to serve as a Specialist and decided to take it.
He credited the initiation of the program in Claiborne Parish to the Supervisor of Secondary Education and Career/Technical Learning, Chris Brooks. Brooks saw a need for it specifically in Homer Jr. High School and Haynesville Jr. High School.
“We were given the opportunity to have the positions in our parish and begin that project about a month ago. These specialists are full-time at their campus and offer actual job skill classes, career counseling, academic counseling and much more,” said Brooks. “The goal is to have a person on campus that can help students through the transition from Jr. High to High School while serving as a mentor as they start looking at career pathways.”
Myles is excited to take on this new role in Claiborne Parish and is looking forward to playing his part in shaping the youth of today by emphasizing the significance of of high school graduation and assisting them to discover their individual career pathways.
“The administrative staff and educators of Homer Jr. High have warmly embraced me and have expressed the need for more male figures in schools,” he said. “It’s crucial to bring clarity to their thoughts regarding the purpose of school and learning, as well as how these aspects can impact their lives, both negatively and positively. I believe that once clarity is achieved, they will be better prepared to make life decisions.”