Everyone — no matter where you live, what you do or what side of the political aisle you stand on — wants young people to have a chance to turn away from criminal activity and turn toward education so that they can be productive members of our communities.

For the second year in a row, the Juvenile Justice Center welcomed members of the community to inform students of prospective job opportunities after high school.

The Kane County Juvenile Justice Center holds an average of 50 co-ed inmates year round, and in the last three years has integrated a school curriculum that mirrors typical public high schools in Illinois.

By creating an educational component, students continue to learn even while incarcerated. They can earn quarter, half, or full credit hours at the JJC, and transcripts are sent to their home school.

“We’re thrilled that this year’s career fair was so well attended by our community organizations,” said Regional Superintendent Patricia Dal Santo.

Students were especially interested in learning about proper resume formatting, interview techniques, and local jobs available.

“These types of initiatives are what inspire children to stay motivated to graduate high school and become contributing members of society,” Dal Santo said.

State Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia, Chairman Chris Lauzen, Chief Judge Susan Boles, and Associate Judge Clint Hull were also in attendance to show their support for the career fair.

By creating an educational component, students continue to learn even while incarcerated. They can earn quarter, half, or full credits at the JJC, and transcripts are sent to their home school.

Along with Kane County, students come to the JJC from DuPage, Kendall, McHenry, and DeKalb counties. All students receive 300 minutes of instruction with a certified content-area teacher, which also includes a 50-minute class focusing on health, wellness and social-emotional learning and cognitive behavior training.

Organizations that attended the 2nd annual career fair included the Illinois Job Corp, Elgin Community College, Kane Workforce Development, the U.S. Army Reserves of Glendale Heights, the St. Charles Fire Station, A Thin Line Tattoo Shop, Tyson’s Taekowondo, Warrior’s Edge Martial Arts, Quad County Urban League, and the Gateway Foundation.

About the Kane County Regional Office of Education

Led by Regional Superintendent of Schools Patricia Dal Santo, The Kane County ROE is located in Geneva and serves nine school districts. From teacher licensure assistance to professional development, the ROE’s mission is to advocate for education, provide leadership and perform regulatory functions. Learn more about the ROE’s offerings on Facebook, Twitter and by signing up for the semimonthly newsletter.