At the Tyler ISD Career and Technology Center (CTC), students are getting more opportunities to get right to work after graduation. Tyler Legacy senior Dixie Hampe became the first-ever student intern at the Smith County Jail over the summer. “It was such an interesting experience,” Dixie said. “Every day you went to work, you never knew what would happen. It may sound surprising, but that environment made it exciting and even fun at times.”
Dixie is an active student, band member, Southern Belle, and a high academic achiever. “I am so impressed by Dixie,” CTC teacher Jason Newport said. “She’s a leader in the classroom and sets an incredible example for her classmates. She has shown all things are possible when you’re determined to reach your goals. Even the opportunities no one else has done before.”
The partnership with Smith County is a fantastic opportunity for Tyler ISD Criminal Law students to get real-life experience outside of the classroom. It will also allow students like Dixie to graduate high school and get a high-paying job in the career of her choice. “My coworkers are very understanding of my age and experience level,” Hampe said. “They welcomed me from the start and now treat me like part of the team. It feels like a family who has each other’s backs.”
Tyler ISD has a criminal justice program within its Career and Technology Center. However, few jobs in that field are available for students once they graduate. Students must be 21 to enter the police academy. Other criminal justice career paths, like prosecutors or defense attorneys, require higher education.
Smith County Chief Deputy Jimmy Jackson, who was facing a severe staffing shortage in the sheriff’s department that runs the county jail, worked with the school district to create a program to allow students the opportunity to earn a jailer’s license as soon as they graduate. Ten students were enrolled last year, and 13 are currently enrolled. The Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) approved the program, allowing the county to train high school students, and granted an exemption to current rules requiring you to be 18 years old to start training.
“It’s important for us to champion programs like this,” Newport said. “The opportunity for juniors and seniors to leave the classroom and get right to work in a relatively high-paying field can positively impact my students’ future.”
After Dixie completes her fall internship, she will be back in the classroom learning physical combat defensive tactics, classification of inmates, fingerprinting, and other criminal procedure skills. After graduation, she plans to pursue her dream of being the first female K-9 Officer in Smith County.
For more information, contact Jennifer Hines at Jennifer.Hines@TylerISD.org