Jonesboro-Hodge Elementary School has received the Organization for Autism Research (OAR Foundation) grant for the 2024-2025 academic school year. OAR’s mission is centered on improving the quality of life for individuals on the Autism spectrum and those who support them.

The elementary school program was called Creating Change through Awareness and was designed to educate administrators, teachers, parents, and students about autism spectrum disorders. The goal is to increase student awareness and acceptance of their peers with autism. OAR supplied peer education materials (Kit for Kids) filled with educational activities and projects for students.

J-HES principal, Ms. Danielle Copeland, committed to focusing on this initiative the entire school year for its pre-kindergarten through fifth-grade student body.

Activities included:
• A Faculty In-Service Lunch and Learn workshop where teachers were given information about the program;
• Equipping each grade-level teacher with a Kit for Kids;
• Selecting a “Peer Mentor” from each class every nine weeks to promote kindness and support classmates;
• Providing students with opportunities to present the information to parents and community leaders;
• Partnering with the Jackson Parish Sheriff’s Office to support their “Friends of Jackson Parish” initiative;
• Encouraging students to speak at various meetings about what they have learned;
• Organizing opportunities for students to create and participate in “Kindness Events”.
• Holding a school-wide, week-long dress-up event in recognition of Autism Awareness Week.