Jamestown Public Schools has announced the appointment of Laura Livengood as the Coordinator of the Early College High School (ECHS) Grant. Ms. Livengood, who was appointed during this week's Board of Education meeting, will start recruiting middle school students for a designated college pathway beginning in ninth grade. She will provide supports, interventions, guest speakers and field trips to encourage post-high school academics. The $99,000 grant was awarded to JPS in 2020, but due to COVID-19 delays, began this year. The grant amount awarded increases every year with each additional cohort of students.
Ms. Livengood, an alumna of Jamestown High School, was most recently the Project Manager and Adjunct Instructor in the Occupational Therapy Assistant program at Jamestown Community College. She has also worked as a certified occupational therapy assistant at Brocton Central Schools.
Ms. Livengood says, "I'm really looking forward to being back at my high school helping our community in this way! Ensuring that these students have a positive experience during their first exposure to college courses and related opportunities in high school will help guide them towards success in higher education."
The Early College High School Grant provides JHS cohorts of 25-30 students with a chosen path -- web design, engineering sciences and environmental sciences -- requiring students to choose a college pathway by the end of their ninth grade year. They spend their ninth grade year exploring potential career and college opportunities. The grant includes a partnership with Jamestown Community College to provide college orientation, and if they choose to go to JCC, a special path to transfer to a four-year college. Students in the grant will also take three classes at JCC, with the support of Ms. Livengood, to try the college experience and learn how they need to prepare during high school.
