Griffis celebrating 20 years as school teacher

Leslie Griffis is a kindergarten teacher at the Neshoba Central Elementary School. Griffis loves being a teacher and being a part of the Rocket family. Griffis attended Philadelphia Schools and continued her education at East Central Community College and then Mississippi State University with a bachelor's in elementary education.

“This is my almost my 20th year at Neshoba Central,” said Griffis.  She started out teaching 5th grade and then moved to the 1st grade.

“For 14 years, I’ve taught kindergarten,” she declared.

Griffis loves children and wants to make a difference in their lives. 

“Working at Neshoba Central, we all work toward the common goal for the betterment of the students,” said Griffis. 

She said the children had done remarkably well at wearing their masks during the CVOID-19 pandemic, saying that it is the new normal now. 

Griffis has been married to Wright Griffis, who works at his family business Griffis Ford. For almost 20  years, they have known each other since growing up. They have three children, Maggie Lee, Laney, and Sanders Griffis. 

Their oldest daughter Maggie Lee is a part of the dance group at Neshoba Central High School called the Rockettes. Her son, Sanders, is on the Neshoba Central baseball team. Her youngest daughter Laney is 10 years and takes dance in Newton. 

When Leslie and her family are not busy with work, they enjoy being involved with their children’s lives and activities. Leslie and her family also like to take afternoon swims and walks.

“Wright mans the grill,” said Griffis

Some of Leslie favorite food includes steak, different types of chicken, and shrimp. Griffis also enjoys making desserts such as brownies and cookies. 

One of Griffis’s favorite places to eat in Philadelphia is the Porterhouse. Her family is also very involved in the church they attend. They help plan events and teach Sunday school. They do the youth lessons at her home where the children do their lessons and then get to swim. 

Griffis’s least favorite part of cooking is cleaning up the mess. 

Since football season has started Leslie and her family are sometimes assigned to cook before each big game. She also does some baking for her oldest daughter’s dance team at Neshoba Central where she makes sweets and Ritz chicken, which can be found in her recipes. 

BETTY’S SOUR CREAM BISCUITS

2 sticks of melted butter

2 cups of self-rising flour 

1 (8oz) sour cream

Mix together and bake at 375 degrees for 20-22 minutes 

NANA’S BACON RANCH DIP

1 package of Dry Ranch Seasoning 

1 package of bacon bits 

1 1/2 cup of shredded cheese 

1 (8oz) sour cream 

Mix together and serve with Frito Scoops 

RITZ CRACKER 

CHICKEN

Skinless chicken tenders 

1-2 sleeves Ritz crackers crushed

1-2 stick butter, melted 

Dip chicken in melted butter & place in a pyrex dish. Sprinkle crushed Ritz crackers over chicken tenders util covered. Bake at 400 degrees for 5 minutes