West leaves Evangeline Parish schools after 32 years

After 32 years with the Evangeline Parish School District, Roxane West announced she will be taking the skills she learned and executed in her home parish elsewhere.
At a recent school board meeting, she said, “It is the support of my family and prayers answered from God that has allowed me to do this, but I do thank you all so much for the years I’ve been here. I know the district is going to continue to do great things under the leadership of Mr. Darwan Lazard (School Superintendent) and the staff. ”
West first began her career in education in 1985 as a special education teacher at Oakdale Elementary after graduating from Louisiana College.
In 1987 she left Allen Parish and continued her career in education as a teacher at Hester Heath Elementary. She remained at the Bayou Chicot based school for two years before she landed a position at the EPSB’s Media Center working as an educational diagnostician.
In this role, West was a part of the pupil appraisal team, which had the task of conducting evaluations for struggling students with the Evangeline Parish school system.
The Pine Prairie native continued to climb the ladder of success and eventually garnered the title of district interventionist - a position she held from 2007 until 2013.
As an interventionist, West was responsible for working with all of the schools in the district to identify students with academic needs and to assist with student interventions prior to evaluations. The purpose of this was to set up interventions with students to enable them to be able to remain in regular education classes and continue to make educational progress.
West then became a supervisor in 2013 for the special education department, where she managed pupil appraisal until she landed her current position of Director of Special Education in 2016.
Along with these accolades, West has also served on state level work groups where she has been instrumental in planning educational outcomes for all Pre-K through 12th grade students.
The next step in West’s career is leading her to Desoto Parish where she will continue her to propel learning for students forward as she revamps their special education department.
Replacing West will be Special Education Supervisor, Kelli LaFleur, who has spent time as an educator, principal and supervisor for the special education department.
Superintendent Darwan Lazard called the two ladies who have worked two together for the last three years “the dynamic duo of special ed.”
The change was an emotional one for LaFleur, who fought back tears as she stated, “I’m hoping to continue with the road the she (West) has paved for us and I think that special education is going to continue to grow and flourish.”
During the meeting on February 6, Title I Supervisor and Teacher of the Year Coordinator Grace Sibley introduced this year’s district teachers and principal of the year.
The Teachers of the Year are: Sarah LaFleur Bergeron, elementary school; Lisa Celestine, middle school; Nicholas Jagneaux, high school; and Erica Fontenot, who received the inspirational award. Principal of the Year is Melanie Miller.
Sibley said, “We have awesome teachers in Evangeline Parish.”
She also shared 163 teachers have submitted applications to the state for teacher of the year, and of those 163, the state will pick 24 finalist. In regard to principals of the year, she said there are 76 who are vying to become the state Principal of the Year. A total of 24 will be chosen as finalist.
While there are many teachers and principals competing, Sibley said, “We believe we have a winner.”
During the meeting, the board also received an update on busing from First Student Manager Hubert Mabe.
Mabe shared that First Student is in the process of updating cameras on buses.
Board member Sheila Joseph asked if bus drivers are checking buses for students who may have fallen asleep once their route is completed.
Mabe enlightened the board that drivers check all seats after they finish their route and to ensure this is done, drivers are required to display a placard at the back of the bus after they have completed their seat check.
He also shared since the start of the year, drivers have found a total of five students sleeping on the bus due to the system First Student has in place to check seats.
Items approved at the meeting:
•Hiring of Fontenot’s Asphalt Services, LLC for paving at Chataignier Elementary School for faculty parking in the amount of $26,937.45.
•Payment for additions at W.W. Stewart to Pat Williams Construction in the amount of $23,070.46.