Overall State Winners to be Named at Celebration Ceremony on July 27 in Baton Rouge
NEW ORLEANS, La. – The Louisiana Department of Education today announced the finalists for the 2019 Teacher and Principal of the Year awards during the opening session of the annual Teacher Leader Summit. The 18 finalists are elementary, middle, and high school educators from school systems across the state. Winners will be selected from this group and announced at a celebration ceremony in July.
“It is my privilege to honor this outstanding group of educators from across the state,” said State Superintendent John White. “Every day, these teachers and principals inspire and encourage not only their students to learn and grow but also their entire school communities. We are grateful for their leadership, and we are proud to call them Louisiana educators.”
The 2019 Teacher of the Year finalists include:
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Spencer Kiper
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Bossier Parish
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Elm Grove Middle School
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Kathryn Ferguson
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Caddo Parish
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Youree Dr. Middle Advanced Placement Magnet School
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Susan Mingee
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Concordia Parish
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Vidalia Lower Elementary School
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Caitlin Meehan-Draper
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FirstLine Schools
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Samuel J. Green Charter School
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Tasha Jolivette-Jones
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Iberia Parish
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Coteau Elementary School
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Keyre' Bradford
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Lafayette Parish
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Ridge Elementary School
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Stephen Goodly
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Orleans Parish
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Warren Easton Senior High School
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Elizabeth Gregorie
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Richland Parish
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Mangham High School
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Kristen Bruce
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Vernon Parish
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Pickering High School
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The 2019 Principal of the Year finalists include:
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Holly Castile
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Cameron Parish
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Grand Lake High School
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Eric Davis
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City of Monroe School District
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Wossman High School
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Victoria McMullen
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East Feliciana Parish
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East Feliciana High School
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Amanda Morrison
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Grant Parish
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Grant High School
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Christina Fontenot
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Jefferson Davis Parish
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Lacassine High School
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Pam Pruden
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Lincoln Parish
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Dubach School
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Kim Canezaro
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Pointe Coupee Parish
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Valverda Elementary School
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Ramica Robinson
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St. Landry Parish
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Krotz Springs Elementary School
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Rhonda Vaccaro
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Tangipahoa Parish
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Roseland Montessori
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This year, school systems submitted about 300 nominations for Teacher and Principal of the Year. The Department named 48 semifinalists in April 2018. A state team then narrowed that pool to the 18 finalists named today. Those finalists will soon participate in face-to-face interviews with state selection committees led by community and education leaders. The selection committees, comprised of past Teachers and Principals of the Year, representatives of educator associations, business groups, and others will ultimately choose the state division-level and overall winners.
All Teacher and Principal of the Year finalists and semi-finalists will be honored, and the overall state-level winners will be announced at the 12th Annual Cecil J. Picard Educator Excellence Symposium and Celebration on Friday, July 27, 2018, at the Crowne Plaza Executive Center in Baton Rouge. The event is co-sponsored by Dream Teachers, a nonprofit organization that partners with businesses, industry representatives, and organizations throughout the state to recognize and reward educators, who model instructional excellence and dedication to serve the needs of children.