Overall State Winners to be Named at Celebration Ceremony on July 19 in Baton Rouge
BATON ROUGE, La. - The Louisiana Department of Education today announced the finalists for the 2020 Teacher and Principal of the Year awards during a reception hosted by First Lady Donna Edwards and Dream Teachers, LLC, at the Louisiana Governor's Mansion. The 18 finalists are elementary, middle, and high school educators from school systems across the state. Winners will be selected from this group and named at an awards ceremony this summer.
"It is my privilege to join the First Lady and our partners at Dream Teachers in honoring this talented and passionate group of educators from across the state," said State Superintendent John White. "These inspiring teachers and principals are leaders in their classrooms, as well as in their communities, and we are proud to call them Louisiana educators."
"Teachers and principals are two of Louisiana's greatest assets, and when we invest in them, we invest in our children," said First Lady Donna Edwards. "Educators often go above and beyond the call of duty to ensure the success of students, and this honor recognizes the exemplary dedication and skills they bring to the classroom every day. Their work is helping to create a brighter future for our young people and our state."
The 2020 Louisiana Teacher of the Year finalists include:
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Lacey Blocker
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Maplewood Middle School
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Calcasieu Parish
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Amanda Crane
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Homer Elementary School
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Claiborne Parish
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Lisa Celestine Jack
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Vidrine Elementary School
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Evangeline Parish
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Jessica Borland
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South Grant Elementary School
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Grant Parish
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Brittany Legendre
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Thibodaux High School
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Lafourche Parish
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Annie Smith
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Lake Charles Charter Academy
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Lake Charles Charter Academy Foundation
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Jessica Breaux
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Edward Hynes Charter School
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Orleans Parish
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Emily Ogden
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Rayville High School
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Richland Parish
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Christopher Dier
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Chalmette High School
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St. Bernard Parish
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The 2020 Louisiana Principal of the Year finalists include:
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Brad Soileau
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Oakdale High School
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Allen Parish
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Carli Francois
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Dutchtown High School
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Ascension Parish
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Steven Schulz
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South Beauregard Elementary School
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Beauregard Parish
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Lisa Burns
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W.T. Lewis Elementary School
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Bossier Parish
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Christella Dawson
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Neville High School
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City of Monroe School District
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Greg Hayden
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Juban Parc Junior High School
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Livingston Parish
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Jennifer Dennis Carey
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KIPP East Community
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Orleans Parish
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Charles Wright
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Ouachita Junior High School
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Ouachita Parish
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Tamika Green
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Albert Cammon Middle School
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St. Charles Parish
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This year, school systems submitted more than 200 nominations for Teacher and Principal of the Year. The Department named 48 semifinalists in April 2019. A state team then narrowed that pool to the 18 finalists named today. Those finalists will soon participate in face-to-face interviews with selection committees led by community and education leaders. The selection committees will ultimately choose the state division-level and overall winners.
All 2020 Teacher and Principal of the Year finalists and semi-finalists will be honored, and the overall state-level winners will be announced at the 13th Annual Cecil J. Picard Educator Excellence Symposium and Celebration on Friday, July 19, 2019, 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.
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