by Susan Peterson

Helping young males become successful members of society is Jamille Rogers Thomas’ goal. 

She is a former classroom teacher and now a library media specialist at Marguerite Vann Elementary School in Conway. 

Although no longer in the classroom, she uses her newly published book, “Be Kind. Be Brave. Be a Hero,” to educate youth on how to succeed.

Jamille founded and directed The Distinguished Gentlemen’s Club at Vann. The empowerment program is designed for male students in grades second through fourth and teaches social responsibility and leadership skills. 

Using her father as a role model, Jamille writes about an African-American male who manages to overcome his experiences with racism and bullying. 

Monica Garcia, a kindergarten teacher at Marguerite Vann, was the illustrator for the book.

In her quest to help others be successful, Jamille has achieved quite a few accomplishments herself. She has been recognized by Gov. Asa Hutchinson and was presented with a citation by the Arkansas House of Representatives. The School Library Journal featured her as a local hero who is striving for equity through literacy. In 2016, she was recognized by the American Library Association for her efforts in the Conway School District.

Jamille knows the power literacy can have in helping to motivate and instruct. Pairing the right book and student can be magical. She used the book with the Distinguished Gentleman’s Club. 

Jamille has traveled to various schools, sharing her effective strategies and was a special guest at the 2018 Texas Library Association state conference. She has a contagious enthusiasm for helping male students be successful in and out of the classroom. With her book, she is able to spread her message of hope and inspire her readers to develop positive character traits.
Jamille lives in Conway with her husband, Korey. For more information or to purchase books online, visit JRTandMore.com.