Jackson High School's incoming CAPS program bridges gap from classroom to career paths

Thirty Jackson High School students with a professional interest in the education and medical fields will have the opportunity to receive an "internship-type experience" beginning next school year as a result of the school district's new IGNITE Center for Advanced Professional Studies (CAPS) program.

The new CAPS program was announced during the Jackson Area Chamber of Commerce Business Breakfast on Friday, March 21, and will be the first of its kind in Southeast Missouri. According to Jackson School District superintendent Scott Smith, joining the CAPS Network — a national 501c3 not-for-profit that's focused on "paving the education-to-employment path through profession-based learning" — began with a continuous school improvement plan (CSIP) in 2022.

"We did a strategic planning process, and with that process, part of it was, 'How do we make sure our students are ready for life after graduation?' Which actually goes with our mission, 'Producing lifelong learners ready to go to work,'" Smith said. "One of those processes we've been looking into is, 'How can we start getting high school students involved in our community?' As business leaders, you told us that you wanted to see kids involved, and the earlier we could get them involved in your businesses, the more likely they are going to want to come back to Jackson."

Smith said he and some of the district's other administrators took a "field trip" to Springfield last year to see how schools in that region have utilized the CAPS program. District administrators visited other schools that take part in the program and did individual research on how to best hit the ground running.

Jackson School District has partnered with Southeast Missouri State University and Saint Francis Healthcare System for the program, and participants will receive college credits through their studies. Students interested in a career in education will be placed in classrooms of current Jackson teachers as part of a "grow your own" program, which will encourage them to return to the district. Those interested in the medical field will train on-site at Saint Francis Medical Center to receive "real-world learning about all aspects of the medical industry."

"As we look to the past, we are aiming to care for the future," said Justin Davison, president and CEO of Saint Francis. "What this means for Saint Francis is an opportunity to not only serve the community but truly be a part of its fabric as a fiercely independent, locally-governed organization. We view it vital to connect with children, businesses and the broader community to understand your needs and how to best serve you.

"We believe care is best when it's local, and we believe care is of higher quality and most consistent when you have an opportunity to be cared for by those who love you. This is an exciting opportunity for us to educate students and to welcome them into our ministry."

Initially, the district hoped to receive just 10 applications for the incoming program. Instead, it received 55. Administrators narrowed it down to 30 students, but hope to grow the program as it moves forward.

"We have selected 30 because we feel like that's a manageable number that we could do in year one," Smith said.

Leading the program is English language arts teacher Ashley Raney — who has spent 20 years with the district — who will serve as the CAPS coordinator. Raney expressed her enthusiasm for the opportunity.

"If I can create a love of Jackson in students and kind of keep them around in our businesses, I just think that's good for everyone," Raney said. "I did not grow up in Jackson, but I moved here. I still consider myself a Jackson lifer, teaching for 20 years, and to instill that love of the district and the community and our students, I am excited to be a part of that."

Students interested in participating had to meet certain requirements, including holding a 3.0 GPA, a clean discipline record, 95% attendance, being a junior or senior entering the 2025-26 school year and producing a letter of recommendation from a community member and teacher of their choice. Each of the 55 applicants went through an interview process and Raney said the 30 that were selected all showed various strengths and a "desire to work in either the education or medical field."

Four of the students who were accepted into the program were invited to attend Friday's breakfast. Current Jackson junior Ava Forrest, who expressed interest in the medical field and hopes to become a labor and delivery nurse, said she prepared with her mother, an occupational therapist, for several hours in the days leading up to her interview.

"We sat on the couch for probably four hours just going back and forth," Forrest said. "'What should I say in this interview?' And she was like, 'Well, what do you want to say?' She was giving me all these things that would sound professional. But then I was like, 'You know what, this is why I want to do this,' and she was like, 'Yes, go you.' She's honestly so excited for me to go in this program."

Rowen Glass, a current junior at Jackson who is interested in pursuing a medical career in anesthesiology, said he appreciates being accepted into the program.

"I like to help people, so, obviously, it means to me to get in and a lot for me to get invited to this breakfast," Glass said. "... I'm excited to see all the different jobs and shadow the ones I'm really interested in. Getting college credit is always a plus."

Veronica Hendrix, a sophomore at Jackson who is interested in a career as an elementary school special education teacher, said she believes the experience will be "fascinating" and looks forward to seeing her students grow as she works with them.

"I've always had a special impact and have been closer with special education students. I always seem to have a connection with them," Hendrix said. " I think getting to do internships with teachers is going to be really fascinating. You're going to see more on an everyday basis, whereas when you're job shadowing, they know you're coming, so the kids have to be good. If you're there every day for three weeks, you get to see how they are each day."

Jackson junior Brian Karshner is interested in mathematics and hopes to eventually teach high school algebra and geometry. He expressed pride in potentially becoming a third-generation teacher and ultimately wants to make a difference in kids' lives.

"I have had some pretty poor teachers in my life, but I have also had some amazing teachers in my life," Karshner said. "I want to be one of those teachers that makes a difference and actually makes kids want to learn."