Musketeer Monday Part One: Jewel Carmichael-Jones

As this week's Musketeer Monday Spotlight shines, we turn to an exemplary Musketeer: Ms. Jewel Carmichael-Jones! A familiar face across all corners of the Central Islip School District and beyond, Ms. Jones has been a dedicated member of the community for decades.

Ms. Jones began her career in the district in 1999 as a special education teacher assistant. Today, she supervises the in-school suspension (ISS) classroom at Reed Middle School, where she mentors, encourages, and guides students toward better decision-making.

Reflecting on the rewards of her work, Ms. Jones shared: "The greatest rewards come when students have moments of enlightenment—when they give themselves grace and realize they have the choice and power to improve their situations. It’s also rewarding," she added, "when I don’t see a student return to in-school suspension."

A proud resident of the Central Islip community for more than 35 years, Ms. Jones and her family have deep roots in the district. She has four children—Temi Jones, Bianca Jones Marlin, Ericca J. Marshall, and Tiffani Jones—all proud Central Islip High School alumni. "We all love our community and continue to uplift and give back," she said.

In her free time, Ms. Jones enjoys cooking—her fan favorites include empanadas, macaroni and cheese, Guyanese curry, roti, and pepperpot—baking, working out, spending quality time with family and friends, and listening to music. She also has a passion for travel. Having explored 17 countries and 20 U.S. states, she holds a special fondness for one destination in particular. "Hawaii is my favorite place to travel. There's nothing like it!" she said.

When asked what it means to be part of "Team Musketeer," Ms. Jones reflected: "Being part of Team Musketeer means 'family' to me. It’s about opening our hearts, minds, and time to those in need, showing genuine care and concern for our community, and investing in our youth—our future. The spirit of Team Musketeer is diversity, culture, and love."

Congratulations, Ms. Jewel Carmichael-Jones, and thank you for sharing your story!