By: HEATHER
BOGARD
Associate Editor
EPSD’s STAR Teachers SHINE (Soar High in Nurturing Excellence) was the theme for the teacher of the year training held Wednesday, September 13, at the Evangeline Parish School Board Technology Center. Twenty-three EPSD Teacher of the Year (TOY) winners were selected by their peers to represent their schools.
The newly selected group of teachers participated in an all-day training facilitated by Grace Sibley, district TOY Coordinator and former National Board (NB) Assessor, using the NB model. Melissa Coreil, Casey Fontenot and Angelle Fusilier, three National Board certified teachers who recently re-certified, will serve as resident experts in assisting teachers as they prepare for district level competition on September 29.
Winners will participate in ongoing district Zoom calls, redeliver the information at their respective schools during professional learning community sessions, submit videos and fulfill all district and state requirements.
The district has had eight Teacher and Principal of the Year winners in eight years who exceeded district level competition and placed at the state level. They were:
2023 - Tim Comeaux, Chataignier Elementary, state TOY semi-finalist. Comeaux will find out if he is a national finalist at the Teacher Leader Summit in New Orleans on May 30, 2024.
•2022 - Emee Aswell, Ville Platte High, high school state TOY semi-finalist.
•2021 - Kayla Joseph Jones, Chataignier Elementary, middle school state TOY semi-finalist.
•2019 - Lisa Celestine Jack, Vidrine Elementary, overall middle school state TOY winner.
•2018 - Heather Demoruelle, James Stephens Montessori, state TOY semi-finalist.
•2017 - Liz Chatelain, Mamou High School, state high school Principal of the Year finalist.
•2016 - Christine Bacon, W.W. Stewart Elementary, state Principal of the Year semi-finalist.
•2015 - Cheri Fontenot, James Stephens Montessori, overall state Elementary Principal of the Year; and Brandi Marcantel, Vidrine Elementary, state TOY semi-finalist.
Teachers participating in this year’s workshop included:
Elementary - Kassidy Sanders, Bayou Chicot Elementary; Beth Brown, Chataignier Elementary; Lauren Thibodeaux, James Stephnes Montesori; Amber Aymond, Mamou Elementary; Faiuth Ducote, Pine Prairie Elementary; Josie Guillory, Vidrine Elementary; Eric Fontenot, Ville Platte Elementary, and Olivia Guillory, W.W. Stewart Elementary.
Junior High - Miranda Young, Basile High School; Jessica Reed, Bayou Chicot Elementary; Mia Brignac, Chataignier Elementary; Christina Fontenot, Evangeline Central; Stephen LaCaze, Evangeline Reimagine Academy; Kimberly Guidry, James Stephens Montessori Junior High; Kristen Ardoin, Mamou Junior High School; Lisa Smith, Vidrine Elementary; Justina Capanay, Ville Platte Elementary; and Jessica Capseta, Ville Platte High School.
High School - Ben Bertrand, Basile High School; Harikrishna Oruganti, Mamou High School; Jennifer Fontenot, Pine Prairie High School; and Natalie Guillory, Ville Platte High School.
Tonya Soileau was named District Support Person of the Year; and Darla Wharton received the “Ms. Impact” Award. Both teachers are employed at Pine Prairie High School.
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