Academic skills

Academic skills

At Job Corps, we will help you unlock your full potential. Not only do we offer hands-on career training, but we also offer classes in academics, like reading and math.

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High School Diploma or the equivalent

At no cost to you or your family, Job Corps provides any materials and supplies (i.e., books, workbooks, testing materials, specialized safety equipment) you’ll need to complete your academic and career training programs.

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English Language Learning (ELL) Program

Enroll in our English Language Learning (ELL) program and become more confident in your English speaking and writing abilities. Reasonable accommodations to support ELL are available.

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Tutoring and Academic Support

If you are interested in getting into a tutoring program once enrolled, you may contact your instructors or the Academic Manager. Tutoring is available in academics, where students are tutored by instructors or by fellow students (Peer Student Tutors).

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Advanced Career Training

Keep learning and training. Our Advanced Career Training (ACT) is an advanced college-level program. Students in ACT get to continue living on campus while taking courses for a college degree. To qualify for the ACT program, you must have:

  • A high school diploma or the equivalent
  • Completed at least one level of Job Corps career technical training
  • Recommendations from career technical training instructors and center staff
  • No major disciplinary issues within 60 days of applying
  • Above-average evaluation scores
Career Success Standards (CSS)

At Job Corps, we know that it’s important for you to have great employability, social and independent living skills. Before you enter the workforce, we’ll make sure you understand

Job Corps' 10 career success standards:

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Workplace Relationships and Ethics

Interact with co-workers and deal with problems and situations with honesty, integrity and responsibility.

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Communication

Listen actively, follow directions and communicate with others to solve problems and accomplish tasks.

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Personal Growth and Development

Hone your personal skills, attributes and behaviors that foster confidence and personal growth.

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Interpersonal Skills

Get along with others and adjust to a variety of social and professional situations.

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Information Management

Interpret and evaluate data, organize and maintain information, and use technology to complete your work.

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Multicultural Awareness

Value diversity and the ability to work with people of different backgrounds and cultures.

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Career and Personal Planning

Work on a personal plan that outlines a step-by-step process for entering and advancing in your career.

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Independent Living

Find, manage and use resources to maintain employment, support physical and emotional needs, and lead a productive and independent life.

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Continuous Learning

Assess personal strengths and areas for development, set goals, and identify learning opportunities.

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Problem Solving
Solve problems by seeking and evaluating different points of view and utilizing different resources to reach decisions.
Meet the staff

Meet the staff

Instructor
Mary Ewing
Mary Ewing is a Math and Reading English Language Learners instructor at Muhlenberg Job Corps Center. She earned a master’s degree in education from Murray State University. This is Carol’s first teaching job with young adults, and she loves learning as much from them as they learn from her. 
Instructor
Brandon Wood
Brandon Wood is the lead Career Preparation Program instructor at Muhlenberg Job Corps Center. She has worked with Job Corps for several years and held the position of lead CPP instructor for 12 years. She loves working one on one with new students as they begin their path toward a successful career. Brandon is pursuing a degree in human services from Madisonville Community College and plans to one day use her education and training to work as a drug and alcohol counselor/TEAP specialist with Job Corps students.
Instructor
Carol Kinkade
Carol Kinkade is a Math and Reading English Language Learners instructor at Muhlenberg Job Corps Center. She earned a master’s degree in education from Murray State University. This is Carol’s first teaching job with young adults, and she loves learning as much from them as they learn from her.
Instructor
Tony Gott
Tony Gott Commercial Driver’s License instructor, brings over 25 years of experience as an over-the-road truck driver. He enjoys teaching young people how to drive Class B trucks, how the vehicles operate day to day and the service drivers can provide to the public. Tony takes pride in passing down his wealth of knowledge to the next generation of drivers.
Instructor
Carolyn Mitchell
Carolyn Mitchell works as a Math and English Language Learners instructor at Muhlenberg Job Corps Center. She has spent more than 40 years in the classroom, and before coming to Job Corps 11 years ago, she taught science at Muhlenberg County High School and Madisonville Community College. Carolyn currently teaches math, GED and ELL high school classes. Her goal is not only to help students solve math problems, but to help them gain the skills they will need to solve real-world problems.
Jordan Strader
Jordan Strader works as a Commercial Driver’s License instructor at Muhlenberg Job Corps Center and has nearly a decade of experience as a Class B driver. He previously worked in recreation before becoming a CDL instructor and conducted many weekends field trips. Jordan enjoys working with young people who don’t take life too seriously but take the training seriously. He has spent much of his life around team sports and perceives himself as more of a coach than an instructor.
Jordan Harbin
Jordan Harbin serves as Test of Adult Basic Education instructor at Muhlenberg Job Corps Center. He has held several roles at Job Corps, from recreation specialist to center life supervisor, and what he loves most about working at Job Corps is learning about the diverse backgrounds of students and connecting with them through common life experiences. Jordan enjoys teaching life lessons and making time to give a listening ear, when needed. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Western Kentucky University and plans to enroll in Lindsey Wilson College to attain a master’s degree in counseling so that he can continue to encourage and help others.
Crystal Chandler
Crystal Chandler serves as the Career Preparation Program instructor at Muhlenberg Job Corps Center. She has worked in education for nearly 25 years, including a decade at Muhlenberg Job Corps. She also previously served as residential advisor on campus.
Instructor
Mr. McCay
Mr. McCay has worked at Muhlenberg Job Corps Center for nearly 20 years as a Test of Adult Basic Education Reading instructor. He has taught all levels of TABE Reading to students from over 40 countries. In addition to TABE Reading, Mr. McCay also assists students in earning their high school diplomas with the Programmed Logic for Automatic Teaching Operations program.
Jay Durral
Jay Durral , Commercial Driver’s License instructor, believes in good communication between staff and students and supporting students along their “roads” to successful lives.
Instructor
Anne Gant
Anne Gant is a Reading instructor at Muhlenberg Job Corps Center. Her goal is to encourage a love of learning through heightened emotional intelligence in students as she brings experience from over 10 years as an educator, coach and foster parent. Anne loves reading, vocabulary building and creative writing. Above all, she is passionate about human experience and how multiple aspects of life shape our development. Anne’s formal education includes a bachelor’s degree from Western Kentucky University and master’s degree from the University of the Cumberlands.
Patricia Jackson
Patricia Jackson , Career Preparation Program instructor at Muhlenberg Job Corps Center, has worked with young adults for nearly 20 years, starting her journey at Muhlenberg County High School as a job coach. Patricia is passionate about working with young adults and assists students with discovering and reaching their full potential. This is what led her to Job Corps, where she has served in a variety of roles from worked-based learning coordinator to MyPACE instructor, to CPP instructor.