In honor of Women's History Month, Dr. Janis Pardue Hill is being recognized as an exceptional educator and historian, dedicated to preserving stories that shape our collective memory. Through her work with the Louisiana Department of Education, she has developed innovative ELA curricula that bring literature and literary history to life, encouraging students' connectedness with the past and fostering empathy, critical thinking, and civic responsibility.
Janis' latest project highlights her father's service during World War II, using his personal story to engage students and communities in meaningful ways. By integrating firsthand narratives into classroom lessons and activities, she demonstrates how history can be both educational and inspiring, showing the courage, resilience, and sacrifices of those who came before us.
Her efforts have earned her the prestigious Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Women in American History medal, recognizing her commitment to historical preservation, education, and civic leadership. Beyond the classroom, Janis has spent a lifetime connecting with fellow educators as a consultant and as a lifelong learner. As a result of the response to her numerous presentations on her father's work, she directs the conversation now toward a focus on encouraging the use of local and family histories to enrich learning and to help students understand the human side of history. Most importantly, she promotes a discussion of the necessity that we all work to ensure these personal family histories—which are the foundation of our nations' history are never lost.
For Women's History Month, Janis emphasizes the importance of remembering and sharing stories across generations. “History is alive in our families, communities, and classrooms,” she says. “Preserving these stories honors those who came before us and empowers those who follow.” Through her work, she exemplifies the lasting impact educators can have in shaping informed, compassionate, and engaged citizens.
“Telling His Story: POW #1000 – The Bataan Death March and Japanese POW Camps” by J.C. Pardue and Dr. Janis Pardue Hill is now available on Amazon and for presentations and book talks and can be reached by email janisphill@gmail.com.
About the Author
Janis Pardue Hill, PhD, a retired university professor and lifelong educator, holds a BS in English education, an MA in literature, and a PhD in Curriculum Theory. She has taught in secondary and university classrooms, served as a Program Coordinator in the Louisiana Department of Education, and worked as a Curriculum Coordinator in the Ouachita Parish School System.
Dr. Hill retired from Louisiana Tech University in 2010 to dedicate herself to family, with the publication of her father's notes and journals her top priority. She spent the last two years of her father's life talking with him and interviewing him about the plethora of journals and notes he had recorded after he returned from the war about his experiences on the Bataan Death March and in Japanese POW camps. That memoir, entitled “Telling His Story: POW #1000 The Bataan Death March and Japanese POW Camps,” was published on December 2, 2022; and since that time, Dr. Hill has spoken at numerous events, including the 2023 Louisiana Book Fair where the memoir was one of the featured books. Telling His Story: POW #1000 is currently in republication. BUG: The Story of a Special Bug and His Little Boy is her first children's book.
Dr. Hill and her husband, Charles A. Hill, Jr., have two children, Trey and Amy; three grandchildren, Jack Hill, Harper Bourgeois and Emma Bourgeois; and a son-in-law Bartley Bourgeois. Dr. Hill and her husband live in North Louisiana.
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