The LaSalle Parish School Board recognized Jena High School as its School of the Month during the board’s regular meeting Tuesday, Sept. 1, at the LaSalle Parish Media Center in Jena.
Jena High School Principal Adam Powell opened the meeting by introducing a group of students and teachers from his campus for special recognition, saying he was glad for the opportunity to highlight some of the school’s standout individuals.
Powell first introduced senior Sydney Williams, the school’s student body president, to lead the meeting’s opening prayer. Powell described Williams as deeply involved across campus, serving in student council, playing basketball and softball, and participating in Anchor Club for all four years of high school.
“I don’t know if she would admit it, but I feel like she’s considered sort of the heart and soul of all the organizations that she’s part of,” Powell said.
Williams also holds a Business of Retail credential and led the board in prayer before the meeting continued.
Powell then introduced junior Timothy Spence, a 4.0 student who has earned multiple industry-based credentials, including advanced level carpentry certifications through Louisiana’s Jump Start program. Spence has also taken dual enrollment classes and is active in FFA and Beta Club.
“He’s one of those students that any student would tell you is kind, helpful,” Powell said. “He is also at the top of all the teachers’ lists, and all of that makes up for the fact that he’s a big Alabama Crimson Tide fan.”
Spence led the board in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Powell then recognized three Jena High School teachers for their contributions to the school. He first introduced Alexis Orgeron, a 2014 Jena High School graduate who returned to teach at the school in 2018 and now serves as the longest tenured teacher in the high school’s math department. Orgeron currently teaches Algebra II and Advanced Math and has taught nearly every math course offered at the school, including a course preparing students for the College Algebra CLEP exam. She is also ACT Math Instructional Mastery certified.
“She’s carried quite a load for us. We’re grateful for her,” Powell said.
Powell noted that Orgeron also sponsors the school’s National Honor Society chapter, mentors new teachers, and plays a key role organizing major school events such as homecoming and graduation.
Powell next recognized Victoria Smith, who joined Jena High School in January 2024 after previously teaching English at Ruston High School. Smith now teaches agricultural science and has more than doubled enrollment in the program, from roughly 60 or 70 students to more than 100 each year.
“Just overhaul the building itself. Just cleaned up, painted, rebuilt things,” Powell said, describing improvements Smith has made to the agriculture facilities and surrounding campus grounds, including new flower beds in front of the school.
Powell said Smith has worked to secure grant funding and industry support to sustain the program, including a $25,000 grant, and has revitalized the program’s greenhouse. He noted Smith transitioned into agricultural education after being inspired by her own experience in an agriculture program during high school.
“She shared that being in ag when she was in high school had made an impact on her, and she wanted to make a change in a positive way in other students’ lives by becoming an ag teacher,” Powell said.
Smith holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Louisiana at Monroe and a master’s degree in education from Louisiana Tech University, along with certifications in agriculture, mild/moderate special education and English. She has been selected as one of only 20 participants from 13 states to attend the Ag Mechanics Academy at Tennessee State University in 2024, and one of only 20 participants selected nationally to attend the CASE Agricultural Power and Technology Institute in 2025. Smith has also been nominated for Louisiana Teacher of the Year.
Powell also recognized Candace Hudnall, a 2017 Jena High School graduate who returned to the parish in 2023, teaching briefly at Jena Junior High before moving to Jena High School to teach civics.
“Once we talked about civics being a LEAP subject, I recruited her to come to Jena High School to be our civics teacher,” Powell said, noting that civics carries significant weight in the school’s overall performance score. “It’s paid off. Our scores have been good. They continue to improve.”
Powell said Hudnall completed her master’s degree in education leadership last year and has continued seeking ways to grow professionally while also enriching her students’ learning experience, including organizing an annual mock trial for students and securing grant funding for a field trip to the state capitol. Powell said Hudnall also sponsors student council and student service initiatives, mentors new staff members, and has begun taking on additional administrative responsibilities within the school office.
Powell closed his remarks by thanking all of the honored students and teachers for their contributions to Jena High School.
“I think the main thing is just their willingness to go above and beyond, their love for their students and their school,” Powell said. “They’re part of what makes Jena High School a great place, and it makes everybody there better.”
