BPSB Evaluation Center

A big THANK YOU to Stephanie Hilliard at Sonic store # 5936 located at 2802 Barksdale Blvd. Bossier City for supporting the Bossier Parish Evaluation Center.

We appreciate your kindness and support for the Bossier Parish Special Education Department.

We would like to give a big THANK YOU to
Northpoint Community Church.

The church donated weekend meal bags for 120+ students in the JumpStart Summer Program.

We appreciate your kindness and support.

The Special Education Department would like to recognize Nicole Falcon, special education teacher at Bossier High School, for obtaining an Optimist Club Grant.

Mrs. Falcon submitted a grant to the Optimist Club in hopes of purchasing classic literature titles (Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, A Tale of Two Cities, Call of the Wild, and Pride and Prejudice) in adapted form to accompany the classroom curriculum.

Mrs. Falcon was notified that she was chosen as one of the recipients and was invited to the Optimist End of Year Luncheon on Tuesday to be recognized and accept the grant.

Please see the photos attached. We are proud of you and your work to educate our special education population.

A BIG THANK YOU to Barksdale FCU for their donation to our JumpStart Summer program.

Barksdale FCU has supported our program for the past 2-3 years by providing snacks for the students.

We appreciate your help and kindness.

Our PIVOT students have been working on their financial literacy skills all year. The wonderful people at Citizens Bank (now Bonvenu Bank) treated our students to breakfast and a powerpoint presentation about various aspects of handling their personal finances in the bank conference room. Our students toured the bank's teller area and got a peek at the vault where bank customers' money is kept safe.

Afterwards, our PIVOT enjoyed a delicious lunch at Raising Cane's Chicken.

✨ 𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐬𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐡𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐬, 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫 𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐟𝐚𝐧𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐬!✨

This year marks the 5th Annual i3 Art Expo, and we're thrilled to announce that on Saturday, May 4th, we're taking you to a galaxy far, far away with a costume competition inspired by STAR WARS, Aliens, and Space! 🛸

For contest guidelines and to enter this stellar competition, warp speed over to 👉 https://bit.ly/i3costumecontest

Don't miss out on this opportunity to be a part of something truly out of this world!
🎭🎨May the ARTS be with you!🎭🎬

💡

2024 i3 Art Expo Costume Contest Guidelines

The Special Education Department for Bossier Schools is once again celebrating our outstanding staff members. Nominations for this recognition are made by Special Education staff throughout the district.

Our January/February recipient turned out to be a team and there was no way to nominate one without the other. JANELLE LANDINGHAM & APRIL MAFFEO were recognized on Wednesday, March 6, 2024 for their exceptional work and dedication as paraprofessionals at Sun City Elementary.

Julia Henry, Sun City Elementary Principal; Lea Clark, Assistant Principal; Lacie Cross, Special Education Teacher; and Amber Bunker, Social Skills Interventionist, and were in attendance when Dr. Debbie Gegg, SPED Supervisor; Kimberly Stafford, SPED Supervisor; Roddy Pate, SPED Program Manager; and Katye Hamby, SPED Program Manager came to recognize this special team.

JANELLE LANDINGHAM is a mother of three and has been married for over 26 years.

Janelle is originally from Illinois and moved to Bossier City via the Air Force. She proudly served our country for four years and then began working at Sun City in the library. She later transitioned to a general education para position where she is quoted as saying, “I enjoyed every minute of seeing our kids grow socially and emotionally. Seeing our stars achieve their goals is so rewarding.”

For the 2023-2024 school year, Janelle transferred to a specialty classroom working with Autistic children. According to Janelle, “I have thoroughly enjoyed the transition. Nothing is better than being able to celebrate all the achievements our kids have daily. The kids have truly humbled me and have brought me tremendous joy. This job requires you to have a great support team around you and I have the absolute best. I could not do this job without my teammates in our classroom and the rest of my Sun City family. Thank you for acknowledging my hard work, but know it's the kids that make me shine.”

The following quotes are from colleagues and other staff members about Janelle:

“We are so blessed to have Mrs. Landingham on our Sun City staff. When a position as paraprofessional opened up in the specialty classroom last year, Mrs. Landingham requested to be placed there. She has a true heart for ALL students. Her love for students is evident through the development of personal relationships with all who are assigned to the specialty classroom. She is patient, respectful, and understanding of students’ individual needs. She provides invaluable assistance throughout daily instruction so academic as well as social learning can take place. Mrs. Landingham is knowledgeable and continues to grow by researching strategies and tools to help her students. Mrs. Landingham is the epitome of a Shining Sun City Star and we are so grateful to have her on our campus.”

“Janelle is a light and shines so bright. Her positive attitude and spirit are contagious. She makes deep connections with students and they know they are loved and they can trust her. She always has something positive to say no matter how our day has gone. She is a true blessing to this classroom.”

APRIL MAFFEO is married and she stated, “I have six wonderful children that all attend Bossier schools.”

April began her teaching career with gymnastics and then moved on to teaching preschool for many years. She stated, “I have always had a passion for teaching children, and when I was young I would often play school at home and with my friends.”

This past summer, April interviewed for a paraprofessional position at Sun City and she knew instantly that Sun City was where she was meant to be. According to April, “I love watching the students in my classroom learn and grow. I am so thankful for my classroom family and couldn't do what I do without the support and encouragement of Mrs. Cross, Mrs. Landingham, and Mrs. Bunger. I am also very thankful for the wonderful administration at Sun City and for the Bossier Parish SPED Department for all of the support they have provided me throughout the school year. I am happy to be a part of the Bossier Schools SPED team this year and I am excited to continue to grow in my position.”

The following quotes are from colleagues and other staff members about April:

“Our team knew as soon Mrs. Maffeo walked out of her interview last summer, that she was made for this role in the specialty classroom. She is caring, empathetic, and observant. She responds quickly to students’ needs without students even saying a word. She communicates easily with her team as well, often using just a glance and knowing how to appropriately respond. She is respectful of students' needs and gets to know each of her students on an individual basis. She takes the initiative in the specialty classroom, jumping in to assist whenever she can. Mrs. Maffeo is a selfless, resilient member of our team and we are so lucky that she calls Sun City home.”

“April brought her personal experiences to us to help us manage the classroom as a team. She is so smart and thoughtful towards how to help the students with their individual needs. She is extremely talented in working through social lessons with students when needed. She has a natural teaching ability and her love for the kids shines through. She is truly the missing puzzle piece to this classroom and completes our trio perfectly.”

The following is another quote submitted about our recipients as a team:

“The paraprofessionals in Mrs. Cross’s room are the absolute best. They are not afraid to tackle any problems that come their way and are always willing to go above and beyond. They love on their students with all their heart and are a true blessing. Sun City Elementary and Bossier Parish are lucky to have these incredible women.”

The Special Education Department is proud of our January/February recipient/team for the 2023-2024 school year, JANELLE LANDINGHAM & APRIL MAFFEO. Both of you are appreciated and make a difference!