To learn more about all award programs and opportunities at the Department,
please see the Award Initiatives Overview document.
Teacher and Principal of the Year Programs
CALLING ALL EXCELLENT TEACHERS AND LEADERS - STATE APPLICATIONS ARE DUE BY JANUARY 11, 2024
The Louisiana Department of Education recognizes that great teachers and school leaders are critical to student success. Annually, the Department, in partnership with Dream Teachers and the Louisiana Association of Principals, recognizes and celebrates some of the state’s most exceptional educators through the Teacher and Principal of the Year programs. These programs provide an opportunity to acknowledge those teachers and leaders who are making outstanding gains with students. Their commitment to student success exemplifies Louisiana’s education profession.
The Teacher and Principal of the Year application process for the 2023-2024 school year is open. All school systems are encouraged to select up to three teachers and three principals, one per division (elementary, middle and high) as their local-level honorees and submit these candidates to the state process. School systems without a formal selection process in place may elect to send their candidates directly to the state-level process.
State-level applications are due by January 11, 2024. By that time,
All applications and materials are posted in the resources library. Candidates submitting a state-level application and coordinators are encouraged to join an informational webinar.
To view the current and previous Teacher and Principal of the Year honorees, visit the library.
For questions about the Teacher and Principal of the Year programs, email excellenteducators@la.gov.
Calling all Excellent New Educators
The Louisiana Department of Education recognizes that great teachers and school leaders are critical to student success. Annually, the Department honors the state’s most exceptional educators through the Teacher and Principal of the Year programs. These programs provide an opportunity to acknowledge educators who are achieving excellence. The Louisiana Department of Education, in partnership with
Dream Teachers, has launched the
New Teacher Of the Year program which recognizes and celebrates some of the state’s most exceptional new educators.
This program provides an opportunity to acknowledge those new teachers who are already demonstrating excellence in the classroom and their commitment to student success that exemplifies Louisiana’s teaching profession. This addition to the already-existing Teacher and Principal of the Year programs will recognize the outstanding contributions of a first-year classroom teacher.
More details regarding the selection process and timeline for school systems can be found in the
awards program library or on
The New Teacher Experience page.
For further information please contact Laurie.Carlton@la.gov.
CALLING ALL EXCELLENT Early Childhood EDUCATORS - APPLICATION PROCESS OPENS
The Louisiana Department of Education recognizes that great teachers and leaders are critical to student success. Annually, the Department, in partnership with Dream Teachers announces exemplary early childhood teachers and leaders. Eligible candidates are teachers or directors in type III centers, CCAP Certified Family Child Care Sites, Head Start Centers, or Early Head Start Centers.
The Early Childhood Teacher and Leader of the Year application process for the 2023-2024 school year is now open. All applications, materials, and the timeline are posted in the resources library.
All communities and networks are encouraged to have at least one Early Childhood Teacher and one Early Childhood Leader to apply for this award. All applications for this award program are due by January 11, 2024, and will be submitted via the Early Childhood Teacher and Leader of the Year online
application.
Seeking Recommendations for the 2024 Louisiana Exemplary Educator Recognition Program
The Louisiana Exemplary Educator Recognition Program was created to honor and elevate exceptional early- to mid-career teachers, teacher specialists, assistant principals and principals who exemplify Louisiana’s education profession. This program provides an opportunity to honor those educators who offer strong, long-range potential for professional and policy leadership. If selected as an Exemplary Educator, the educator will receive a certificate of recognition, honored during a Louisiana State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) meeting and may be invited to participate on advisory boards and task forces, as well as be considered for other state and national recognition programs. Your recommendations will identify educators who are of great value to your school system, community, and state because of their expertise.
Candidates should have at least five years of experience serving in teacher, specialist, assistant principal, and/or principal roles. Recommendations are confidential and should not be shared with the candidate.
To recommend candidates for the 2024 Louisiana Exemplary Educator Recognition Program, stakeholders are to submit recommendations in the online
Recommendation Portal. School systems can review recommendations and indicate approval to move the candidate forward with consideration for the award. School systems will also have an opportunity to submit additional names of educators to recommend for the program.
The portal will be open until December 15, 2023.
For recommendation materials and more information, visit the resource library. For questions, email ExemplaryEducator@la.gov.
Justin Templet,
2023 Public Interest Fellow
Stephanie Robertson,
2023 Public Interest Fellow
The Louisiana Models of Excellence initiative was created in an effort to acknowledge, honor, and spotlight schools and school systems serving as exemplary models for implementing the Department’s Believe to Achieve educational priorities that leads to the advancement of student success. This initiative has three main goals.
- To celebrate excellence in Louisiana schools
- To share stories of success and provide models for others to see
- To create high-impact partnerships across school system
The Department is now accepting nominations for the 2023-2024 Louisiana Models of Excellence. School systems may submit nominations for a school or a system-wide initiative through the online portal.
Nominations are accepted on an ongoing basis; however, nominations need to be submitted by February 1, 2024 to be considered for the 202-2024 school year. For more information regarding the Louisiana Models of Excellence, visit the resources library.
Click on the Louisiana Models of Excellence recipients below to learn about their exemplary initiatives.
Phillis Wheatley Community Schools (FirstLine Schools)
Phillis Wheatley Community School’s leadership team and staff are improving literacy outcomes through dedicating an instructional coach to literacy, tracking student data, and a commitment to professional growth through their Early Literacy initiative. Learn more about the Early Literacy initiative.
East Feliciana Public Schools
East Feliciana Public Schools is committed to accelerating learning recovery by providing students with additional opportunities for learning and growing through the summer months. Their summer learning program, EF Accelerate, focused on providing deeply engaging experiences, strong academics, and a balance of enrichment activities and field trips. Learn more about EF Accelerate.
Rapides Parish Schools
Rapides Parish Schools is guiding young people on a path to becoming accomplished teachers through a district level strategy for implementing a pre-educator pathway, collaborating with a university to offer dual enrollment classes and providing clinical experiences for future educators. Learn more about their Pre-Educator Pathway.
Mansfield Elementary School (DeSoto Parish)
Mansfield Elementary School is making great gains in literacy with their initiative for literacy interventions, Strategic Literacy Focus. Along with incorporating a "Whatever I Need (WIN)" literacy program, the leadership team and staff ensure all students receive intervention and extensions based on individual student needs. Learn more about Strategic Literacy Focus.
Lafourche Parish School District
Lafourche was named as a Models of Excellence recipient for the success of their innovative science initiative, Making the Impossible Possible Through Science, and their perseverance through Hurricane Ida. Their approach to science includes strong instruction and engagement that’s even adaptable for emergency shifts to virtual instruction. Learn more about Making the Impossible Possible Through Science.
Calcasieu Parish School Board
Calcasieu Parish School Board is ensuring students at every high school have access to challenging courses taught by highly qualified teachers. Their Virtual Instruction Program (VIP) provides students at all high schools with access to high quality courses such as STEM, Dual Enrollment, and Advanced Placement. Learn more about their
Virtual Instruction Program.
Questions regarding the Louisiana Models of Excellence may be directed to
modelsofexcellence@la.gov.
CALLING ALL OUTSTANDING SCHOOL SUPPORT EMPLOYEES - APPLICATIONS PORTAL OPENS
The Louisiana Department of Education recognizes that outstanding school support staff are critical to school success. Through the Outstanding School Support Employee of the Year program, the Department recognizes and celebrates some of the state’s most exceptional school support employees. This program provides the opportunity to acknowledge those support employees who have rendered time and talents beyond the call of duty. These staff exemplify Louisiana’s best in the education profession and play an integral role in school and student success.
The search is now on for outstanding school support employee to be considered in this year’s process. This includes state’s most exceptional teacher aides, paraprofessionals, school bus drivers, food service workers, clerical workers, custodial/maintenance workers, or any other employee who is not required to hold a teacher's certificate as a condition of employment.
All school systems are invited to submit up to three candidates (one for elem, middle, and high) to the state-level process. State-level applications are due by the end of day on Thursday, November 30.
For more information, see the Outstanding School Support Employee of the Year overview.
For questions, email childnutritionprogram@la.gov.
Students of the Year Awards Program
The Louisiana Department of Education recognizes that many outstanding students are enrolled in public, nonpublic or charter schools throughout the state of Louisiana. To acknowledge these accomplishments, the Department, in conjunction with the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, (BESE) annually honors one incredible, fifth, eighth and twelfth grade student based on their leadership, academic performance, achievements, citizenship and service to the school and community.
Students are selected by their school and submitted to the school system level; these nominees are then forwarded to the Zone Level Selection Committees for the BESE region of the nominee’s school site.The charter and nonpublic Zone Selection Committee will submit two nominations to the Regional Selection Committee, and the public school Selection Committee will submit four nominations. Each Regional Selection Committee will select one regional finalist to participate in the state level of competition.
The resulting twenty-four finalists will be recognized at a special ceremony when the winners of the three grade levels are announced.
Students of the Year Materials
School Health Service Provider of the Year Award
The Louisiana Department of Education recognizes that student health plays a vital role in education and that school health providers are the critical link in ensuring health service delivery to students. Through the School Health Service Provider of the Year program, the Department recognizes and celebrates some of the state’s most exceptional school health providers. This program provides an opportunity to acknowledge school health service providers who demonstrate superior provision of health services in schools and support the expansion of health services in schools.
The search is now on for outstanding school health service providers to be considered in this year’s process. This includes school employees or contractors who are occupational therapists, physical therapists, speech-language pathologists, audiologists, nurses, nurse practitioners, licensed practical nurses, and licensed behavioral health providers (LCSW/LMSW, LPC, and psychologists).
If you know an outstanding health provider, please submit a nomination. The nominations portal is now open and will close on October 12. Multiple nominations and self nominations are accepted. Upon closure of the portal, the nominees will be invited to complete an application.
For more information, see the School Health Service Provider of the Year overview.
For questions, email elizabeth.duncan@la.gov.
Purple Star School Award Program
This award will show recognition to schools that show a major commitment to serving students and families connected to the United States Armed Forces.
To earn the recognition, schools shall engage in the following activities:
- Designate a staff member to serve as a military liaison and engage in the following:
- Serve as the primary point of contact for military connected students and families
- Work to identify special considerations needed by military-connected students and families
- Develop training to inform teachers and other school personnel of those special considerations
- Create a dedicated page on its website featuring resources for military-connected students and families
- Create a student-led transition program to provide peer support for military-connected students
The school system shall engage in the following:
- Adopt a resolution stating the commitment to support military-connected students and families
- Assign a central office staff member to be the contact for the school-based liaison and military-connected students and families
School systems who meet the above criteria should complete the Purple Star School Award form. Schools that earn the designation will be provided a printed certificate, a digital badge, and a digital badge will be added to the school's page on Louisiana School Finder. Please note, SchoolFinder is updated three times a year.
For additional information please contact highschoolacademics@la.gov.
U.S. Senate Youth Program
Two Louisiana juniors or seniors will be chosen to attend the 62nd annual U.S. Senate Youth Program in Washington D.C. during the week of March 2-9, 2024. Upon completion of all on-site events, these two delegates will each receive a $10,000 education scholarship. Juniors or seniors may qualify to apply through leadership positions they hold during the 2023-2024 school year per the USSYP official criteria for the current academic school year. All student leadership-qualifying positions are subject to the judgment of the state selection administrator and will be verified and confirmed. Students nominated by their principals must submit an application of required USSYP official criteria information to the Louisiana Department of Education by Tuesday, October 3, 2023 at 11:59 p.m..
Please read the national brochure and Louisiana logistics memo for more information including eligibility requirements and the application process. State finalists will be notified by Thursday, October 26, and delegates and alternates will be informed in mid-December of their selection.
U.S. Presidential Scholars Program
The U.S. Presidential Scholars Program was established to recognize and honor some of our nation's most distinguished graduating high school students selected on the basis of outstanding scholarship. All high school seniors graduating between January and August 2024, who are U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents and who attend public, parochial, or independent schools, as well as those who are home-schooled, are eligible. School systems can submit, for LDOE consideration, up to two students in the General Component and up to two students in the Career and Technical Education (CTE) Component. The Department can nominate up to 10 males and 10 females AND up to five additional students for the CTE recognition component. To learn more about the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program and the Commission on Presidential Scholars, please visit http://www.ed.gov/psp.
This is a recognition program, not a scholarship program. The 2024 U.S. Presidential Scholars will be selected by the Commission on Presidential Scholars and receive the Presidential Scholars Medallion.
In order to recommend students for nomination to the program, school systems are required to submit to the LDOE a parental release form for each nominated student and complete a JotForm application for each student by 4 p.m. November 6, 2023. It is recommended that school systems review the LDOE evaluation rubric prior to nominating students.
Please contact jumpstart@la.gov with questions.
Louisiana School Physical Activity Award
The Louisiana Department of Education recognizes healthy and physically active students tend to have better grades, school attendance, cognitive performance, and classroom behaviors. Additionally, schools play a vital role in allowing students the opportunity for regular physical activity before, during and after school. To recognize outstanding public elementary and secondary schools that are implementing an outstanding physical activity program, the Department will be recognizing and honoring exemplary schools through the Louisiana School Physical Activity Award program.