Rewarding the educator who goes the extra mile.

Originally published 5/22/2020

Jazmin Hooks is the Center Director for middle school nonprofit Higher Achievement in Richmond, Virginia.

Higher Achievement focuses on supporting students during the out-of-school time hours—afterschool and during the summer months. Higher Achievement offers a rigorous, supportive, and fun learning environment, with caring mentors and academic enrichment in the crucial middle school years.

Jazmin is one of those caring mentors. She makes sure students are supported, not only academically but emotionally as well. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Jazmin worked tirelessly for her students, organizing lesson plans and scheduling virtual programming that ensures they’ll be prepared for their next school year. Jazmin goes above and beyond for her kids, making sure they feel fully supported by the Higher Achievement family, even if they are far apart. 

“Jazmin’s boundless energy is contagious. In person and now online, she prepares thoroughly, engages middle school scholars deeply, and shows them how much they matter.” - Lynsey Wood Jeffries, CEO at Higher Achievement. 

Jazmin’s reflex is to do whatever is necessary to ensure that her students continue to thrive. She is deeply connected to Higher Achievement’s mission to close the achievement gap, no matter the obstacles that stand in the way of success. “Jazmin’s boundless energy is contagious. In person and now online, she prepares thoroughly, engages middle school scholars deeply, and shows them how much they matter. She builds a strong community that children opt into joyfully, and she provides a stabilizing force of love and learning in this unstable time,” said Higher Achievement CEO Lynsey Wood Jeffries.

Higher Achievement will receive a donation from New York Life in Jazmin’s name. Ms. Hooks and five others, representing nonprofits across the country will receive a donation from the company as part of the Love Takes Action series for supporting their communities  during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Watch an episode of our series, "Love Takes Action," featuring Jazmin Hooks here.

Go back to our newsroom to read more stories.