Being able to speak to an audience is just one skill that students in the Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG) program learn at Great Bend Middle School and Great Bend High School. Several GBHS JAG students demonstrated that skill Monday at the Great Bend USD 428 Board of Education meeting.
Instructor Angie Reed was joined by seven JAG students, three from her afternoon class and four from Taylor Stegman’s morning class. This year, Reed has 48 students and Stegman has 46 in JAG classes at GBHS. Great Bend Middle School has a class taught by Brenna Thompson.
The student presenters were:
Grecia Dominguez - President - Morning Classes
Caleb Tudor - Vice President - Morning Classes
Ella Nokes - President - Afternoon Classes
Grace Linn Thomas - Parliamentarian - Morning Classes
Samantha Escobedo - Parliamentarian - Afternoon Classes
Jace Mawhirter - Vice President - Afternoon Classes
Makayla Cross - Secretary - Morning Classes
Students shared GBHS JAG-K Awards:
This Year - Yaneli Garcia - won 2nd place in the Region 1 competition for Prepared Speaking and Ella Nokes was elected as the regional vice president.
Last Year - Kenton Graurholz - won 1st place in the Regional 1 competition for Financial Literacy an placed 10th at Nationals. He has joined the United States Army and is part of the Engineering Basic Officer Leadership Course program.
The JAG program serves students identified as being at-risk of not graduating and addresses their barriers. They learn leadership and employability skills, explore career paths and take part in project-based learning.
Later in the meeting, the board approved next year’s JAG-K memorandum, continuing the program for $50,554, a $7,308 increase from 2025-2026.
For that price, Great Bend USD 428 employs its three JAG instructors, Superintendent Khris Thexton said, calling it a “great value.” The goal is to increase enrollment to 60 students in each class. Any student interested in enrolling can talk to a school counselor.
Thexton noted that JAG keeps kids active in school and teaches skills not taught in a regular classroom.
