For the District

Project SEARCH helps young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities prepare for meaningful, competitive employment. In this episode, Project SEARCH Instructor Lesley Guilaran discusses the program's success, its impact on participants, and why it continues to transform lives through education, job training, and career readiness.

We’re back for Season Four of the JMCSS podcast, For the District! Jackson City Councilman Johnny Dodd joins us to discuss his Men on the Move program. Later in the show, South Side theater teacher Leanna Rangai shares details about the school’s fall musical, The Addams Family.

This week we’re visiting with former North Side basketball great Sha Brooks. One of the most decorated student‑athletes in North Side history, Sha finished her career with 2,030 points, 593 rebounds, and 487 assists while leading the Lady Indians to the 2004 and 2005 state tournaments. She continued her career at the University of Florida, where she earned All‑SEC Freshman honors and was named All‑SEC in 2009. Sha became Florida’s all‑time leader in made free throws and games started, surpassing 1,000 career points before being selected in the 2009 WNBA Draft by the Phoenix Mercury. In 2017, she was honored as an SEC Legend.

We're sitting down with former JMCSS educator Mona Lisa Lanier to celebrate her lasting impact on both the district and the Jackson community as a longtime dance instructor. We'll discuss her nearly three decades of service with JMCSS, the work she continues today through her dance studio, and hear stories from her family's popular 1970s and 1980s singing group, Lanier and Company, also known as The Jacksonians.

Dr. Wesley Johnson is joining Jackson-Madison County Schools as the new Chief Portfolio Officer. A former South Side Hawk, he returns to West Tennessee after building an impressive career in the charter school sector. In this episode, Dr. Johnson shares his journey from growing up in Denmark, Tennessee, to helping shape educational opportunities in the Memphis-Shelby County area over the past decade. We'll discuss leadership, school options, student success, and what he hopes to accomplish in his new role with JMCSS.

We’re breaking the rules on Episode 112 by talking about the first day of school right after the year ends. You’ll hear from two incoming principals — Dr. DeCourtney Turner at JCT and Priscilla Duvall at Andrew Jackson — as they share what it’s like to step into new leadership roles. Former Haywood County Superintendent Teresa Russell explains why she’s choosing JMCSS, and Greater Jackson Chamber president and CEO Kyle Spurgeon highlights how flag football can expand leadership opportunities for students. This is Episode 112 of the JMCSS podcast For the District.

In this episode, we explore the power of Career and Technical Education at North Side High School. Host Greg Hammond sits down with Frank J. Bohanek, Associate Instructor of Automotive Technology for both North Side and TCAT Jackson, and Danielle Shaw‑Jones Grant, North Side’s BioSTEM teacher. Together, they share how hands‑on learning, industry‑aligned training, and real‑world problem‑solving are preparing students for high‑skill, high‑demand careers across West Tennessee. Listeners will hear how programs like Automotive Technology and BioSTEM are shaping confident, career‑ready students

This morning we’re visiting with Tony Black — a name synonymous with Jackson athletics and community recreation. You know him from his years as Director of the TR White Sportsplex and, for the past two decades, as the Executive Director of Parks and Recreation for the City of Jackson. Today, we’re excited to share some big news: Tony is bringing his leadership and experience to JMCSS, where he will serve as our first full‑time districtwide Athletic Director.