Mims, Jenkins Named Volunteers of Year In East Baton Rouge Parish Public Schools

Dr. Jackie Mims and former Rep. Woody Jenkins have been named Volunteers of the Year for Public Schools in East Baton Rouge Parish by Supt. Warren Drake.  Drake praised the two leaders for their roles in helping to bring back Istrouma High School, which was closed for good by the state four years.
Supt. Drake said it was the persistence of Mims, Jenkins, and Istrouma alumni that the school has made a nearly miraculous comeback. Dr. Mims serves as chair lady of the Istrouma Advisory Committee, which has advised Drake on the physical design of the school, the program offerings, and the staff.
Dr. Mims formerly served as a member of the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board. She did not graduate from Istrouma but represented the area on the school board and has a daughter who graduated from the school.
Jenkins, the publisher of the Istrouma Journal and Capital City News, also is a member of the Istrouma Advisory Committee and an active volunteer at the school.
Jenkins is a 1965 graduate of Istrouma High School where he was student body president and valedictorian with a 4.0 average.  He went into the radio, TV, and newspaper business and represented North Baton Rouge in the Louisiana House from 1972-2000.
The awards were presented by Supt. Drake during the annual banquet of the Foundation for East Baton Rouge Public Schools at the Marriott last week.
Drake, Mims, and Jenkins all spoke at the event.
Jenkins said he is very pleased with the progress being made at Istrouma since it reopened last August. He is the founder of the Istrouma Kiwanis Club, which has established a Key Club at the school and is involved with the school in many ways.