Gov. Jack Markell to lead JAG board
Gov. Jack Markell has been elected chairman of the national board of directors for Jobs for America’s Graduates, a national nonprofit dedicated to helping resolve the country’s dropout problems in education and employment.
|
ABOUT JAG
|
|
Jobs for America’s Graduates is a state-based national nonprofit organization dedicated to preventing dropouts among young people who are most at risk.
• It has consistently delivered compelling results – helping nearly three-quarters of a million young people stay in school through graduation, pursue postsecondary education and secure quality entry-level jobs leading to career advancement • More than 800 model programs are now in use in 32 states, making a proven difference in communities and in the personal and career lives of program participants, including a 90 percent-plus graduation rate |
Delaware provided the original model for the Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG) approach now used across the country. Markell is the second Delaware governor to lead this organization and the 10th board chairman in JAG’s 30-year history. He joined the JAG board in 2009, and he was formally installed at the organization’s 30th Anniversary National Leadership Awards celebration Nov. 18, at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, D.C. Eight other governors serve on the board of directors.
“Jack is an effective collaborator and problem-solver – someone people listen to on both sides of the aisle. His enthusiasm and commitment to Jobs for America’s Graduates for many years and his leadership role among the governors makes him an outstanding choice to head JAG into the future,” said Gov. John Baldacci of Maine, the current chairman of the board of directors. Markell brings innovative public and private-sector jobs experience to his role as JAG chairman.
Before becoming Delaware state treasurer, Markell worked in the private sector, helping lead the wireless technology revolution as the 13th employee at Nextel - a name he coined - where he served as senior vice president for corporate development. He was also in a senior management position at Comcast Corp., a consultant with McKinsey and Co. and a banker at First Chicago Corp.
Delaware model adopted
JAG works principally at the state level, and Delaware played the role of establishing and testing the JAG model in 1979 and 1980. Gov. Pete du Pont launched Jobs for Delaware Graduates in 1979. That program came to serve as the model for the JAG national organization, which was founded a year later in 1980. Later, then Gov. Tom Carper played an integral role in further expansion of the organization across the country through a network of local state organizations and by serving as vice chairman of the JAG board.
In its bipartisan efforts over the past 30 years, JAG has helped nearly 750,000 students through its programs, providing individualized middle school, high school, early college and employment support. It is recognized as one of the nation’s most successful programs to help young people facing academic and career barriers.
Markell lauded the personal and societal effect that JAG has demonstrated. “Helping kids who might be inclined to drop out of school to commit, instead, to their education, so that they can succeed at work and contribute to society, makes an incredible difference. Government can spend a lot less money when people are working instead of waiting for a chance to work.”
Markell will lead a board of 50 leaders from the corporate, government and nonprofit worlds, including leadership from JPMorgan Chase, Verizon, AT&T, Bank of America, G.E, Honeywell, Microsoft and IBM.
