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Tangipahoa Parish School Board honors volunteer artist and hears SWAG program update
Summary
The board recognized volunteer Michelle Simmons for painting murals across parish schools and heard from Mildred Johnson about the SWAG (Students With Amazing Gifts) program, which will host a Career Skills Olympics Dec. 17 and a SWAG prom April 18, 2026; proceeds from a promotional “swag slush” will fund the prom.
The Tangipahoa Parish School Board on Oct. 21 presented the Bailey Above and Beyond award to volunteer Michelle Simmons for painting murals at district schools and celebrated a district program serving students with disabilities.
Board member Mr. Anthony introduced Simmons’s work, saying it began after a parent’s Facebook post about graffiti at Ponchatoula Junior High and grew into murals at multiple schools. He described Simmons’s outreach to a principal (then Dr. Hayden) and the way teachers and students responded to the artwork. Anthony quoted Simmons: "I do it because of the feedback I get from the teachers and students... If it can help them from having a bad day, then it's all worth it." The board offered public praise for Simmons’s murals.
In the academic update, Mildred Johnson, the district’s transition coordinator, described the SWAG program—Students With Amazing Gifts—as an effort to highlight students with disabilities and improve post‑school outcomes. Johnson announced a Career Skills Olympics scheduled for Dec. 17 at Southeastern Louisiana University’s Pennington Center, designed to give students job‑related competitions judged by local business owners. She also said the district will hold a career resource fair on March 26, 2026, at the Tangipahoa Parish Fairgrounds, and a SWAG prom for grades 9–12 on April 18, 2026 at the same fairgrounds.
Johnson said the district has partnered with local employers who hired student workers this summer through work‑based learning; she listed named vendors supporting placements. She also described a fundraising promotion: a “swag slush” beverage will go on sale Nov. 1 with 100% of proceeds earmarked for the SWAG prom. Johnson encouraged local businesses and individuals to sponsor or donate to the event.
Board members thanked Simmons and Johnson for their work and noted the positive impact on students’ morale and inclusion. The board took no formal vote on the recognition or the program update; these were presented as announcements during the meeting.
