The Jackson Parish Recreation Department (JPRD)Board has hired Justin Dodson as the new JPRD Director. The 36 year old is a 2007 Jonesboro-Hodge High School graduate and holds a degree from Louisiana Tech (2012) and A Louisiana College Teachers Certificate (2013) takes over duties effective January 31st while also continuing to be the Quitman High School head softball coach. 

Dodson’s professional experience includes:
2013 -15: Physical Education Teach at Southside Elementary and Jonesboro Hodge Middle School while also being head football and basketball coach at JHMS.
Head Baseball and assistant football coach at Jonesboro Hodge High School from 2014-2015: Head baseball coach at Jonesboro-Hodge High School 
2015-18: Head Softball Coach at Winnfield Senior High School 
2018 – present: Head Softball Coach Quitman High School 

During his coaching career, Dodson has been named Class 3A Coach of the Year in 2017 along with being selected as the Class B Coach of the Year in 2021 and again in 2024 after leading QHS to their first ever state championship in softball. He will also be the 2025 Louisiana High School Coaches Association East All-Star Head Coach. 

I am very grateful to the Jackson Parish Recreation Board for honoring me with the opportunity to lead the Jackson Parish Recreation Department,” said Dodson. “I am very blessed to have coached some amazing kids in the past 15 years from Jonesboro to Winnfield to Quitman and now I get to help kids from all of Jackson Parish find a passion for sports or outdoor activities.”

“My plan as the Jackson Parish Rec Director is to push to make it the best Recreation Department in the state,” continued Dodson. “I will give everything I have to this job and hope to make the residents of Jackson Parish proud.”