Amanda Hanks was an educator for 43 years in Vermilion Parish. She began her teaching career in 1934 in a two-room schoolhouse on Chenier au Tigre. She was recognized by the Vermilion Parish School Board in 1982 for her long years of education in the system. She also wrote on the local history of southern Vermilion Parish, authoring "Louisiana Paradise: The Cheniers and Wetlands of Southwest Louisiana" (1988), "Cessac Bayou Delights: A Cookbook and Historical Reviews" (1988), some children’s books, and contributing to "History of Vermilion Parish, Louisiana" (1983). She also edited the "Kaplan Sentinel Newsletter" using the pseudonym Alice Ash.

Hanks received many honors including Delta Kappa, Gamma, Abbeville 1983; University of Southwestern Louisiana Outstanding Alumna, College of Education 1981; Chic-a-la-Pie Service Award, Kaplan 1975; and Louisiana Library Association Modisette Award, 1970. She was a member of many organizations including Attakapas Historical Society; Catholic Daughters of America, Court Pere Maltrait, #1445; Delta Kappa Gamma, Alpha Epsilon Chapter; Holy Rosary Catholic Church, Kaplan; Holy Rosary Catholic Church, Ladies Altar Society; Museum of Natural History and Planetarium, Lafayette; Louisiana Historical Association; Louisiana State Retired Teachers Association; National Audubon Society; University of Southwestern Louisiana Alumni Association; and Vermilion Parish Historical Society.