Junior League of Jackson awards $99,370 in grants to JPS teachers
JANS – Jackson Public Schools received $99,370 in classroom and school improvement grants through the Junior League of Jackson’s (JLJ) Public Schools Mini-Grants program, in partnership with the Community Foundation for Mississippi’s Education Foundation Trust Fund. The grant recipients were announced Thursday, October 8, during a ceremony at Cardozo Middle School.
A total of 18 JPS schools received grants ranging from $546 to $9,446 to support innovative classroom projects and school-wide initiatives designed to enhance teaching and learning for scholars. The Junior League of Jackson contributed $50,000, while the Community Foundation for Mississippi provided $49,370.
The 2026 grants will fund a variety of projects focused on literacy, mathematics, technology, engagement, and scholar development.
At Green Elementary School, scholars in grades 3–5 will launch The Hornet Buzz Student Newsroom, gaining hands-on experience in researching, writing, editing, publishing, and presenting school news. The initiative is designed to strengthen literacy, communication, and digital skills while giving scholars an authentic platform to share information with their school community.
At Walton Elementary School, approximately 25 first-grade scholars will benefit from hands-on mathematics centers, educational games, and technology designed to strengthen foundational skills in number sense, operations, place value, problem-solving, and mathematical reasoning.
The grants will also support Game on for Joy, an esports program serving all seven JPS middle schools and Fast Track. Each participating school received a $7,557 grant to help engage scholars who may not otherwise participate in extracurricular activities. Through the program, scholars will have opportunities to develop teamwork, communication, problem-solving, resilience, and positive relationships.
“Teachers see every day what can spark a scholar’s curiosity, build confidence, or make a lesson come alive,” said Jane Alexander, president and CEO of the Community Foundation for Mississippi. “Through the JPS Education Foundation Trust Fund at the Community Foundation for Mississippi and our long-standing partnership with the Junior League of Jackson, we can help put resources behind those ideas and give teachers the opportunity to create something meaningful for their scholars.”
JPS Superintendent Dr. Errick L. Greene expressed appreciation for the organizations’ continued investment in the district’s educators and scholars.
“Jackson Public Schools is proud of its longstanding partnership with the Junior League of Jackson, an organization that has consistently invested in the success of our scholars and educators,” Greene said. “Over the years, we have worked together on numerous initiatives that have enriched teaching and learning across our district. This grant program, however, remains one of the most impactful components of our partnership. We are grateful for the Junior League of Jackson’s unwavering commitment to supporting public education and helping us meet the needs of scholars throughout our district.”
