Joni Kay James Smith, beloved Johnson Bayou High School principal, rode into the sunset on Saturday, July 26, 2025, in Lafayette surrounded by love, stories, and a lifetime of laughter.
Born on Oct. 12, 1966, to Karen Lavens James and Jerry Callen James, Joni was raised with grit, grace, and the good earth of southern Idaho.
She wore many hats and wore them all well: Daughter, Sister, Queen, Teacher, Counselor, Principal, Mom, Wife, Friend, Confidant, Mentor, and, proudly, Miss Rodeo America 1990.
Raised on a small ranch, Joni’s childhood was filled with dusty pointy boots, 4-H steers, early mornings calving, long afternoons branding, junior rodeos, and sparkling crowns. As the daughter of Miss Rodeo America 1962, Joni carved her own legacy. A four-sport varsity athlete at Jerome High School still holding the 4x100M record, she earned college scholarships in both basketball and rodeo at the College of Southern Idaho, graduating with her bachelors from Boise State University. She was crowned National Miss College Rodeo in 1987, Miss Rodeo Idaho in 1989, and ultimately, Miss Rodeo America in 1990, where she swept horsemanship, speech, appearance, and personality at the iconic Lazy E Arena in Guthrie, Oklahoma.
Joni brought that same drive and compassion into her remarkable career in education. For more than 30 years, she touched the lives of over 10,000 students, families, and fellow educators. She served as a science and PE teacher, school counselor, coach, and principal in both Idaho and Louisiana. She was known for her ability to connect, her thoughtful conversations, and her unwavering belief in the power of education. She earned her Master’s in School Counseling from Louisiana State University and, on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, successfully defended her doctoral dissertation proposal at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Her research focused on how school leaders in rural areas can partner with families and communities to close academic achievement gaps.
To read the rest of this story, please see page three of the print edition of The Cameron Parish Pilot.