Jonesboro-Hodge Elementary is pleased to announce that Jazzeria Ellis and LaJulia Blankenship have
been selected as Student and Teacher of the Year for 2022-23. Ms. Blankenship was also honored as
Jackson Parish School District Teacher of the Year.

J-HES Student of the Year
Jazzeria Ellis is the daughter of Shan Jackson and Jazz Ellis. Her favorite subject is math because she
enjoys working with numbers and Mr. Boston teaches fun and engaging strategies that make math
easier to learn! She currently serves as Miss Jonesboro-Hodge Elementary and plays on the Jonesboro-
Hodge 4th & 5th Grade Basketball Team. She is an active member of 4-H, the School Garden Club, and a
D.A.R.E. participant. Her extracurricular activities include Gymnastics and Basketball. She attends House
of Prayer in Shreveport under the leadership of Apostle Teresa Jackson, where she serves as Lead Praise
Dancer, Youth Finance Officer, and Head Youth Officer. Her community service projects include the 2022
United Way Ready 4 Service Project, 2022 Canned Food Drive, and House of Prayer-Feed the Hungry,
Nursing Home visits, and Elderly Care Baskets. She has future plans to attend the Grambling State
University to become a lawyer. She enjoys eating, sleeping, and spending time with her family in her
spare time and promises to represent J-HES in a positive and respectful manner.

J-HES Teacher of the Year
LaJulia Blankenship is humble and honored to have been chosen as this year’s Jackson Parish District
Teacher of the Year. Blankenship is a graduate of Grambling State University where she received her
degree in Elementary Education. She has worked in the parish as a paraprofessional for 7 years and
moved to Pine Belt Head Start where she worked for 13 years. This is Ms. Blankenship’s 3rd year at
Jonesboro-Hodge Elementary where she is proud to be part of a strong 1st-grade team. She is also a K-2
Content Leader and a certified CLASS observer.

Blankenship says “teaching is a gift from God that comes naturally to me. I credit my late mother, Mrs.
Linda Spence, for grooming me to become a successful teacher”.