BY ROGER SMITH
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
INEZ — The Martin County Board of Education honored nationally recognized Jobs for America’s Graduates students during its May meeting, spotlighting middle and high school teams that placed among the nation’s best at last month’s National Career Development Conference in Salt Lake City.
Martin County students continued a streak of success that local educators say has placed the district among the nation’s elite JAG programs.
Martin County Middle School’s Creative Decision Making team placed third nationally, while Martin County High School’s Project-Based Learning team finished fourth and its Knowledge Bowl team placed sixth.
For middle school JAG specialist Vernon Robinson, the latest achievement continues a remarkable run for a program that has existed for only three years.
“I could not be more proud of these kids and what they’ve accomplished,” Robinson told board members.
Robinson noted that the middle school program has produced a third-place national finisher in each of its three years. During the most recent season, Martin County students captured 17 regional championships out of 18 events. They earned additional state honors before advancing to national competition.
The Creative Decision-Making team included seventh graders Martha Maynard and Isabella Robinson, and eighth graders Andi Williams and Brynleigh Chapman.
Robinson recalled the suspense of the national awards ceremony, where the top 10 teams were called to the stage before placements were announced.
“We just kept sitting there waiting to hear them call them off,” Robinson said. “The more teams that were eliminated, the more excited we got. Then we found out we got third and I was just delighted.”
He praised the students for representing both their school and community well.
“We should all be proud of them,” Robinson said.
Martin County High School
At the high school level, JAG specialist Lance Tackett said the success of the middle school program provides a strong pipeline of future leaders.
“Every year I’ve got kids that graduate that were pillars of the program and then they’re gone and I’ve got to find more,” Tackett said. “So, it’s awesome to know that the middle school program is continuing that sort of success.”
The high school’s fourth-place finish in Project-Based Learning marked one of the strongest national showings by a Kentucky school.
“It’s the highest any school in Kentucky outside of Somerset has ever placed at the national competition,” Tackett said.
The Knowledge Bowl team also turned in a strong performance despite what Tackett described as an unfavorable tournament draw. The team lost in the opening round to a school that eventually advanced to the national semifinals.
Martin County’s Knowledge Bowl team of Marlee Grayson, Raegan Horn, Hallee Preece and Karson Hammond qualified for nationals after winning the state championship. The Project-Based Learning team, consisting of Russell Maynard, Collin Mills, EJ Harless and Luke Preece, advanced after finishing second at state.
Tackett said Kentucky sent 130 students and 30 teachers to the conference and recorded top finishes in 52 events. While many states send only their first-place finishers, Kentucky sends its top three competitors in many categories, creating a deeper and more competitive field.
“So we only see most of the country’s best up there,” Tackett said. “When we compete and we place, it’s a great feeling to know that we’re literally getting the best of everybody from pretty much the rest of the country, and we’re right there with them.”
The national conference, now in its fifth year, has become a showcase for Martin County’s JAG program. According to Tackett, Martin County High School has attended every national conference and returned home with a national placement each year.
“Every time that we went, we brought something home with us and that’s something that no other school in the state can say,” Tackett said.
Board members presented certificates to the students in recognition of their accomplishments.
Next year’s National Career Development Conference will take place in Orlando.