Page 5 - JobReady-August 2017 Issue

State’s Top GED Scorers Ready to Take on the World
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ith the Old Supreme Court worked as a deputy prosecuting
Room as the backdrop, attorney in Pulaski County for some
Wcommendations and well time. In 2014, she started her own
wishes were expressed to the law firm.
twenty-five Arkansans who scored “Work toward your goals.
in the top percentile among all test Don’t give up. If life happens, let it
takers in the state in 2016. happen. Get back up and try again,”
More than 4,000 Arkansans took she continued.
the exam, which is comprised of four At the May ceremony, the
sections and two open response honorees accepted plaques from Andrea Peterka (center, holding plaque) of
questions. This format, adopted in Charisse Childers, Ph.D., Director of Hot Springs scored the 19th highest score in the
2014, reflects the current learning the Arkansas Department of Career state on the GED exam.
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methods outlined by the Career and Education; Trenia Miles, Ed.D.,
College Readiness Standards. Deputy Director of Adult Education;
“Good things come to those who and Dianne Doyle, Administrator of
work hard,” said Tamera Deaver, GED Testing.
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a North Little Rock attorney who Arkansas consistently ranks
served as the keynote speaker. as one of the top states with the
She received her GED credential highest pass rates on the exam. In
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in 1997. After graduating with 2016, Arkansas had a pass rate of
a Bachelor of Arts Degree in 95 percent, which surpassed the
Psychology with a minor in Writing, national pass rate of 79 percent.
she enrolled into law school. She Tamera Deaver, a North Little Rock attorney,
motivates the honorees.

Crossett, Watson Chapel School Districts to Begin JAG Programs

ntergy Arkansas has provided dedicated to preventing dropouts
Jobs for Arkansas Graduates, among high school students deemed
Ewhich is the state affiliate of at-risk or disadvantaged. Since 2007,
the national organization Jobs for Arkansas’s JAG program has been
America’s Graduates (JAG), with recognized with the “5-of-5 National
$75,000 to begin models at Crossett Performance Award,” achieving high
High School and Watson Chapel marks for exceeding performance
High School and to pay for student outcomes in the following five key
conferences. areas: graduation rate, positive
Tom Kennedy, Entergy Arkansas’s outcomes rate, aggregate employment
Vice President of Public Affairs, rate, full-time jobs rate, and full-time Standing left to right are the following:
recognized the partnership with the placement rate. Charisse Childers, Ph.D., Director of the
schools at an event at the Arkansas Crossett Public Schools Arkansas Department of Career Education; Tom
State Capitol. Superintendent Gary Williams said this Kennedy, Entergy Arkansas’s Vice President
“Entergy has long been involved funding will help his district prepare of Public Affairs; Carl Whimper, College and
in economic development in this state, students for meaningful careers. Career Coach, Watson Chapel School District;
Kerri Williams, Ed.S., School Improvement
and it is our belief a rising tide raises JAG is offered in 110 schools with Specialist, Watson Chapel School District;
all ships. For us to recruit the jobs that 113 programs across Arkansas and Kenneth Smith, JAG President and CEO; and
we need in this state, we need to have is a special program of Career and Sonja Wright-McMurray, Associate Director for
Special Projects for the Arkansas Department of
an educated workforce. We’re proud Technical Education. Career Education.
to be a part of that,” Kennedy said. The JAG programs at Watson
JAG is an organization that is Chapel and Crossett will begin this fall.

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