Jacket Parent Academy hosts celebration
{Kassaundra Shanette Lockhart/Davidson Local}
Lexington City Schools newly formed Jacket Parent Academy held its first end of the year celebration on Wednesday evening, May 25 at Charles England Elementary School. Graduates of the program as well as LCS students, parents and community members gathered to champion the program’s success.
The mission of JPA is to increase and empower stakeholder involvement (parent, student, community) in the LCS district. JPA aims to guide parents in feeling more secure and highly confident in helping their child excel academically. Their goals are accomplished through is to seeking parent involvement, supporting parents in their involvement and striving for student-parent success in student academics (S3 approach).
Dr. Kasey Wilkie, director of JPA, opened the program by sharing the purpose and introducing the graduates. She stated she was adamant about getting parents, families and the community involved in the schools. Wilkie shared with the crowd the requirements of participants: attend classes (two to three were held monthly) and volunteer. After many of the classes, Wilkie noted they would have a “family chat” where concerns were discussed and laughs were shared.
Superintendent Dr. Anitra Wells noted to the audience that JPA is an opportunity for parents to become more engaged with what happens with their students. “We know in future years this room will be filled because parents will take a more active interest.”
There were nine total with eight in attendance. Each graduate shared their “why and how” as it relates to JPA. Snippets of the answers are taken directly from candidates quotes.
Coco Callahan - loved connecting with parents at other schools; favorite session was the interview with the owners of Lou Lou’s Seafood.
Sheneque Brawley Duncan - liked the sessions the most; they spent a lot of time doing things that were current
Brittany Hamilton - did this because of kids; wanted to know more about the school system; mental health sessions were amazing; learned of resources within and outside of the school; recommends to any parent
Chanel Lindsay - being a teacher, JPA helped her see how important it is as a family member to be included; favorite session was financial freedom class
Kaliyah Marshall - learned a lot; Wilkie accomodates; favorite session was learning about other cultures; received lots of free information
Brittiny Olds - recently moved from Minnesota; got to meet lovely ladies
Tashina Patterson - networking; learned to save money and budget; Wilkie is a great advocate
Sammi Williams - learned a lot; liked the trivia
Along with honoring the graduates, Wilkie and LCS recognized organizations and individuals who were instrumental in the success of the program and the school system this year.
Top Donors - Elevation Church, Winston-Salem, The Cory Holt Foundation, Austin Dillon, The Josh Bush Foundation, Journey Church and Lexington Community Ministers Conference
Fifth Grade Career Day participants - Mayor Newell Clark, Kelly Harms-J Smith Young YMCA, Attorney Corey Buggs, Aislinn Nagy-Balfour Beatty US, William Pass-Davidson-Davie Community College Recruitment & Admissions, Cailin Asip-Davidson-Davie Community College Recruitment & Admissions, Author Sherricka Carpenter, Lexington Police Department, Lexington Fire Department-Crew B. State Employees Credit Union, Sink Farm Equipment, Lexington Utilities and Davidson-Davie Community College EMS Department
Superintendent Parent & Community Advisory Board - Chanel Lindsay, Joe Watkins, Jennifer Sarette, Rona Lockhart, Jen-Fuller Allen, Franklin Dallas and Sharla Edwards
Active FTO/PTO Boards (Family-Teacher Organization/Parent Teacher Organization) Southwest Elementary Global Academy, Lexington Middle School and Pickett Elementary, The organizations amassed 1,625 hours and 15 minutes of volunteer time from November 2021 until May 2022.
Significant Partners - Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc and J. Smith Young YMCA
JPA Class Presenters - Ashley Hoke-Director of Clinical Operations (Coping with Covid: 1 Year Later, Mental Health Matters-May)-Family Services of Davidson County, Latino Association of Davidson County (Cinco De Mayo-May)-Atalia Cardenas & Jennifer Rivera. Wilma Evans Fuller (Women’s History Month-March), Arelene Pinnix-Morrow (Women’s History Month-March), Blontina Bellamy-CEO Laquain’s Impressions, LLC (February-Black History Month-celebrating black owned businesses of parents/family members in our district), Brittany Marshall-CEO of Lady Bugs Sweet Treats, Erin Jarrett, PT-Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Lexington Medical Center (Sensory Integration-February), Jessica Martin, OT-Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Lexington Medical Center (Sensory Integration-February), January-Information Sessions regarding JPA, February-Small Business Sessions-Davidson-Davie Community College Small Business Center-Financial Literacy, Entrepreneurship, March-LCS Trivia and April-Self Care before Spring Break & Financial Literacy
End of Grade Proctoring Volunteers - Kasmin Ewing, Ariel Massey, Lashona Transou, June Britt, Annabell Callicutt and Ally Copley
Wilkie closed by sharing what to expect from the program going forward. This includes more courses, adolescent learning, additional community speakers and more involvement from LCS staff.
“Thank you for allowing us to honor you,” said Wilkie.
To find out more about JPA, visit their website. The program is not reserved for parents only. It’s open to all stakeholders.
*All photos by Kassaundra Shanette Lockhart for Davidson Local.
