August 14, 2024

By STEPHEN MARCANTEL | Staff writer

When Jaleesa Jones-Thompson, Ph.D., taught in East Baton Rouge Parish, she wanted for nothing. If her smartboard started acting up, she would get one next year. She never needed a personal laptop because they were always provided, and she knew if she ever desperately needed resources, there was a route to funding.

It’s easy to get into a mindset that this is the reality of all school districts in the state, but it isn’t, Jones-Thompson said.

After leaving the classroom, Jones-Thompson began consulting for schools. The job brought her across the state — and into many of its rural school districts.

“My first district as a consultant was St. Mary Parish, and I went into a classroom where they still had the mounted TV and VCR on the wall. They still had whiteboards," Jones-Thompson said, “I was floored.”

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On June 25, 2022, President Biden signed into law the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA), legislation that expands vital mental health services and provides additional support for States and districts to design and enhance initiatives that will promote safer, more inclusive, and positive school environments for all students, educators, and school staff. 

The BSCA includes $1 billion through Title IV, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) for SEAs to competitively award subgrants to high-need LEAs to establish safer and healthier learning environments, and to prevent and respond to acts of bullying, violence, and hate that impact our school communities at individual and systemic levels, among other programs and activities. The Department has designated this component of the BSCA the Stronger Connections Grant Program. 

The department held a webinar series to accompany the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act Stronger Connections. Dr. Jaleesa Thompson was asked to speak on this panel to give insight into how systems can best utilize funds for this grant. 

While working for East Baton Rouge Parish Schools I had the pleasure of being a contributing partner to the comprehensive literacy plan. 

This Literacy Blueprint highlights strategic ways to implement a robust literacy program. This plan contributed to overall  growth in ELA during the first year of implementation! 

So grateful to have been a part of this project. Thank you Dr. Barbara Lashley for including me. 

Check it out here!