Pre-K application open in Livingston Parish
Livingston Parish Public Schools is accepting applications for pre-kindergarten enrollment for the 2026-2027 school year across the district
A child must be 4 years old on or before Sept. 30 to qualify Round 1 of the online Pre-K application period opened Feb 1, and runs through May 1. The online application can be accessed at http://applytolppsearlychild.schoolmint.com.
Documents needed to complete the application include the child’s birth certificate, the child’s social security card immunization records, the parent’s or guardian’s ID, proof of residency (which must be verified through current utility bills), and proof of income (which must be verified with two current consecutive paycheck stubs for every working adult 18 and older or proof of SNAP benefits for the child
Anyone needing assistance completing the online application can visit district staff members on Friday, April 17, at the Livingston Parish Public Schools Professional Development Center, at 17457 Wes McLin Road, Suite F, Livingston, 70754. Staff members will be available with laptops to assist from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. that day Parents or guardians who attend this help session should bring copies of the required documents.
More information about the application process is available as www.lppsearlychildhood. com or on Facebook at Livingston Parish Early Childhood.
Check out Livingston Parish library schedule
Check out some of the programs planned at branches of the Livingston Parish Library Denham Springs-Walker Branch Contact the Denham SpringsWalker Branch at (225) 6864140 or visit www.mylpl.info for more details on any event at this LPL branch.
Wednesday, Feb 18, p.m.: Hooks & Loops Crochet Club (ages 18+) Get hooked on making loops into cool things (also known as crochet) Are you a beginner? You’ll get one-on-one instructions on how to get started, plus some yarn and loaner hooks. Are you more than a novice but have yet to become an expert? Get project help and advice here. Are you a veteran crocheter? Join us to swap ideas, work on your latest creation and share your knowledge. Whatever you are, come by and have fun crocheting! Bring your supplies and spin a yarn with like-minded crafters.
Thursday, Feb. 19, 10 a.m.: Adult Writers’ Club (ages 18+). Whether you’re an aspiring novelist, a poet at heart, or just someone who loves to explore the written word, this is the place to bring your stories to life. The club is a welcoming community where you’ll get to sharpen your skills, get inspired, build confidence, and make connections. To find out how to join, contact Lee Cline at lcline@mylpl.info.
Thursday, Feb 19, 2 p.m.: Box of Chocolates Book Club (ages 18+). Are you an avid reader
BUILDING THE FUTURE
Denham Venom robotics team mentors Scotlandville team in building competition robot
Community news report
The Denham Springs High School’s robotics team played the role of mentors to 19 students from Scotlandville Magnet High last week for a hands-on introduction to competitive robotics and the opportunity to leave the joint session with a robot they built themselves
The visit paired Scotlandville Magnet Robotics team FRC 11342, a first-year team and the only public school FIRST Robotics
Wild
BY CLAIRE GRUNEWALD Staff writer
Multiple times a day, missing dogs are posted in the Lost Pets of Livingston Parish social media group. But it’s not every day that photos of emu walking down the street in Watson make it to the page. At the beginning of last week, photos, calls and messages began circulating around to alert Kacie
Sibley, who is the only owner of emus in the northern part of the parish, that her flightless birds were on the lam Sibley, who lives in north Watson, fed her pair of 3-year-old emus Sunday evening. On the morning of Feb 9, she received a call from a Sheriff’s Office deputy: “We believe these are your emus.”
Sibley affectionately refers to her pair of male and female emus as just “emu” or as country music duo Brooks and Dunn. Brooks and Dunn’s outdoor pen in Sibley’s backyard looked like a
Competition team in East Baton Rouge Parish, with Denham Venom’s FRC 8044 team, Louisiana’s topranked team and a program in the top 2% worldwide, a news release said.
The mentorship was arranged through FIRST Louisiana-Mississippi, which selected Denham Venom as a mentor team for the rookie program.
“By pairing rookie teams with veteran peer advisers, FIRST fosters mentorship, strengthens collaboration, and provides students on
both teams with authentic leadership experiences unlike any other STEM program,” said Carolyn Arthurs, regional director of FIRST Louisiana-Mississippi.
Both teams are preparing to compete at the Bayou Regional on April 3-4 at the Pontchartrain Center in Kenner Scotlandville Magnet Robotics competes under the direction of sponsors Timeisha Holland, Chaquoncio Ruffin, Jeremy
ä See ROBOTICS, page 3G
Charles Salzer
Denham Springs girls basketball team on a roll heading into playoffs
It took almost two-thirds of the season, but the Denham Springs girls basketball team has hit its stride. The Yellow Jackets proved that point Friday when they finished off a 6-0 run through District 5-5A with a 70-52 win over Prairieville earning their second consecutive district title in the process. And that process? It was one that didn’t always seem to have a light at the end of its tunnel.
“You fight through so much adversity You’re in the dark and you feel like you’re crawling out of it,” Denham Springs coach Rudy Smith said. Smith’s team was searching for a positive sign, and it got one on Jan. 9, when it posted a 40-35 win at French Settlement, a team that is currently toprated team in the Division III nonselect power ratings. The win avenged a loss to the Lions at the Livingston parish tournament, and set the Jackets on an upward trajectory Denham Springs finished its regular season at 20-9, but it won nine of its last 10 games after its win over French Settlement.
“I feel like after we beat them, things just started going up from there,” Smith said. “Then we got into district, and we haven’t lost in a while. We’ve battled through a gauntlet, and now we’re getting the reward.”
Sophomore Kynlee Journet, who scored nine points in the win over Prairieville, also said her team’s turning point came in the second meeting with French Settlement.
“At the parish tournament, we came out hot, and then in the third quarter they came back on us,” Journet said. “We lost, and it was cool, but the next time we played them, we had to tell them who we really were. We had to make a name for ourselves.”
ä See SALZER, page 2G
prints by the pen, she said.
“They are literally fight or flight birds,” Sibley said. After Sibley heard from law enforcement, photos started circulating online.
Using the online tips and messages, including the photo on the street in Watson, Sibley and her brothers deduced that the emus had split up: one wasn’t too far from home on Sims Road, and the other was miles away on Tyler Ballard Road.
Getting the female bird who was furthest away was simple, but the male bird on Sims Road was hurt and scared. They found him in the area and chased him before losing him in the woods, Sibley said.
“If you run, they run,” said Preston Marler, one of Sibley’s brothers Marler helped catch the emus and has the battle scars to prove it. He has cuts up and down his legs and arms from the scuffle
PROVIDED PHOTO
Kacie Sibley and her two emus, who she often refers to as Brooks and Dunn, in her backyard north of Watson, Livingston Parish on Feb 11.
PROVIDED PHOTO
Denham Venom team member Cole Ruiz, left, works with Scotlandville Magnet students Mackaelea Thomas and Jace Noah to build a control panel that will be used to program and manage a robot.
AROUND
or are you just looking for some great new titles to try? Do you like mysteries, historical fiction or thrillers? Join the Box of Chocolates Book Club, because you never know what you’re going to get.
Student rodeo coming in this month
The Southeast Louisiana Junior and High School Rodeo will be Feb. 27-March 1 at Lamar-Dixon Expo Center in Gonzales.
Action starts at 7 p.m. Feb 27, 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. Feb. 28, and 9 a.m. March 1. Rodeo athletes in fifth through 12th grades from all of Louisiana will compete. Admission is $10. A weekend pass is $15. Kids 5 and under are free.
Sicilian festival seeks vendors
The Independence Sicilian Heritage Festival is March 13-15. The festival is looking for food and craft vendors. Visit indysicilianfest.com to see forms.
Learn something new
Be sure to visit southeastern nbsstore.net/life-long-learning-livingston-center to find and register for classes such as chair yoga and Zumba, watercolor, stained glass and technology subjects.
Cornhole in Walker
Play cornhole every Friday at the Walker Community Center
The weekly tournaments are $10 for the lower division and $20 for the upper division.
For information, call (225) 3057183.
Send news and events for Livingston and Tangipahoa parishes to livingston@ theadvocate.com by 4 p.m Friday or call (225) 388-0731.
Community news report
Fifty 4-H members recently competed in the Livingston Parish 4-H Food Festival at Lewis Vincent Elementary School in Denham Springs.
The 4-H members from around the parish prepared a total of 82 dishes and competed in 18 cookery contests. The first place winners in the seafood, beef, poultry, egg, sugar, Louisiana commodities and wild game contests will have the opportunity to compete in May at the Regional 4-H Cookery Contest in Walker
WINNERS OF THE 4-H FOOD FESTIVAL
Egg Cookery
APPETIZER/SIDE DISH
FIRST: Jacob Hutchison, Walker
High
SECOND: Aniley Strahan, Juban Parc
Junior High
THIRD: Lexi Gardner, Doyle Elementary
MAIN DISH/SALAD
FIRST PLACE: Bradley Whited, South Fork Elementary
SECOND: Lucy Lane, Lewis Vincent Elementary
THIRD: Aniley Strahan, Juban Parc
Junior High
DESSERT
FIRST: Brooklyn Kersey, Doyle Junior/Senior High
SECOND: Ari Young, Holden Elementary
THIRD: Lucie Vaughan, South Fork Elementary
Poultry Cookery
TURKEY
FIRST: Aniley Strahan, Juban Parc
Junior High
SECOND: Anna Bravata, Holden
Junior/Senior High
CHICKEN
FIRST: Merritt Strahan, member at large
SECOND: Avery Vicari, Holden
Elementary
THIRD: Bradley Whited, South Fork Elementary
Seafood Cookery
SHRIMP
FIRST: Delaney Brumfield, Northside
Elementary
SECOND: Avery Vicari, Holden Elementary
THIRD: Adlar Lavigne, Doyle Junior/ Senior High
CRAWFISH
FIRST: Conway Whittington, South
Walker Elementary
SECOND: Remington Humpal, North
Corbin Junior High; Bailey Cowart, Walker Junior High
Beef Cookery
GROUND BEEF
FIRST: Anna Bravata, Holden Junior/
Senior High
SECOND: Bradley Whited, South Fork Elementary
THIRD: Avery Vicari, Holden Elementary
OTHER BEEF CUTS
FIRST: Ari Young, Holden Elementary
Sugar Cookery
CAKES
FIRST: Adlar Lavigne, Doyle Junior/ Senior High
SECOND: Olivia Vulgamore, Walker High
THIRD: Kennedy Price, Doyle Junior/ Senior High
CANDY
FIRST: Brinley Varnado, North Corbin Junior High
SECOND: Avery Vicari, Holden
Elementary
THIRD: Dallas Baker, Denham Springs Junior High
COOKIES
FIRST: Remington Humpal, North Corbin Junior High
SECOND: Aubrey Burrell, North Corbin Junior High
THIRD: Ari Young, Holden Elementary
PIES
FIRST: Oaklee Bigner, Doyle Junior/
Senior High
SECOND: Lucie Vaughan, South Fork Elementary
THIRD: Jasmine Jones, North Corbin Junior High Louisiana Commodities RICE
FIRST: Ari Young, Holden Elementary
SECOND: Olivia Vulgamore, Walker High
THIRD: Maddie Graves, Walker Junior High
SWEET POTATO
FIRST: Landry Varnado, North Corbin Elementary
SECOND: Avery Vicari, Holden Elementary
THIRD: Scarlette Hebert, South Live Oak Elementary
PECAN
FIRST: Brinley Varnado, North Corbin Junior High
SECOND: Anthony Jacobs, North Corbin Junior High
THIRD: Levi Lockhart, Walker High Wild Game
DEER
FIRST: Merritt Strahan, member at large
SECOND: Felix Flores, Albany Middle
THIRD: Blake Saizan, Juban Parc Junior High
OTHER FIRST: Landry Varnado, North Corbin Elementary
SECOND: Tripp Lazarus, Denham Springs Junior High
DEMCO announces Youth Cooperative Ambassadors Class of 2026
Community news report
DEMCO has announced the selection of 10 students to participate in its Youth Cooperative Ambassador Program, an all-expensespaid leadership and educational program for ninth and 10th grade students.
The class of 2026 YCAP student ambassadors are Jada Brown, of Baker High School; Kylee Juarez, of Central Private; Dedric Wallace, of Glen Oaks Magnet High School; Rishawn Sanders, of Liberty Magnet High School; Braylon Washington, Cirrus Guerrero, Danielle Welborn, and Tyson Burns, of Walker High School; and Benjamin Klein Jr and Leah Hugg, of West Feliciana High School.
SALZER
Continued from page 1G
Making a name meant proving the Yellow Jackets were better than a team with nine losses might indicate. That was clear against Prairieville, a team that had lost just three games all seasons before running into a well-prepared Jackets team.
The difference against the Hurricanes came in the third quarter, when Denham Springs outscored Prairieville 26-14.
“As a member-owned, not-for-profit electric cooperative, one way we serve our communities is by developing future leaders who understand the value of service, responsibility, and local engagement,” said Randy Pierce, DEMCO chief executive officer and general manager The program introduces students to the cooperative business model and the seven cooperative principles that guide electric cooperatives, with an emphasis on leadership, democratic participation, informed decision-making, and concern for community “Through YCAP, students gain practical, hands-on leadership experience while learning how a cooperative works and why community involvement matters,” said Chanon Martin, DEMCO community and member engagement manager “The program helps them build confidence, strengthen communication and problem-solving skills, and understand how they can use those skills to serve their schools and communities.”
The student ambassadors participate in workshops, seminars and peer group activities and complete a community service project designed to reinforce leadership development and practical, real-world skills.
YCAP is one of several educational initiatives offered by DEMCO The cooperative also sponsors an annual essay contest for 11th grade students and a scholarship program for graduating seniors. To learn more about DEMCO Youth Programs visit DEMCO.org/Community
Continued from page 1G
— mainly from the ridges that line the emu’s hind legs.
“It’s not the first time. I expected it,” Marler said about getting cut up from the emu capture. The family discovered that if you put a sock over an emu’s head, it becomes docile. So, armed with socks, they cornered the remaining emu and had both home safe and recovering by Monday evening.
On Feb. 11, Sibley and her brother worked all
“The third quarter has been our weakness all year,” Smith said. “The girls did a good job of responding to what we’ve been preaching for the last couple of weeks.” This week, the LHSAA playoffs will begin. Denham Springs will be looking to improve on last year’s run to the quarterfinals.
Charles Salzer covers Livingston sports for the Livingston-Tangipahoa Advocate. To reach Salzer, email livingston@ theadvocate.com.
day repairing and adding to the fences with electric fencing and a new gate for the emu enclosure.
Sibley and her brothers hope the upgrades ensure that no wild predators can interfere with her animals again. But if the emus do escape again, they now know what tactics to use.
“He gave us a wild goose chase,” she said about chasing down one of the emus. Or in this case: a wild emu chase.
Email Claire Grunewald at claire.grunewald@ theadvocate.com.
PROVIDED PHOTOS
Kacie Sibley and her brother Preston Marler rebuilt parts of the emu enclosure on Feb 11.
An emu in north of Watson, Livingston Parish on Feb 11.
PROVIDED PHOTO
First place winners at the recent Livingston Parish 4-H Food Festival, first row from left, are Merritt Strahan, Landry Varnado, Ari Young, Delaney Brumfield, and Conway Whittington; and second row, Adelise Lehnus, Brinley Varnado, Jacob Hutchison, Anna Bravata, Remington Humpal and Brooklynn Kersey.
PROVIDED PHOTO
With DEMCO CEO Randy Pierce and program coordinator Rhowanda Vessel are DEMCO’s 2026 Youth Cooperative Ambassador Program, including, from left, back row, Randy Pierce, Braylon Washington, Cirrus Guerrero and Dedric Wallace; front row, Rishawn Sanders, Kylee Juarez, Jada Brown, Benjamin Klein Jr., Leah Hugg and Rhowanda Vessel; and not pictured, Danielle Welborn and Tyson Burns.
SLU to host communication services and disorders conference
Community news report
Southeastern Louisiana University will present the 2026 Campbell Conference on campus March 6. Scheduled from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., in the Student Union Ballroom, the conference is open to students and professionals in the fields of speech-language pathology and audiology Within the Department of Health and Human Sciences, the Communication Sciences and
Disorders Program annually hosts the Campbell Conference each spring, said Campbell Conference Chair Lisa Pardue. “Practicing speech-language pathologists, audiologists, and pre-professional student clinicians from across the state have the opportunity to attend a daylong educational conference designed to enhance their knowledge and professional practice. Licensed professionals can earn up to six continuing education contact hours,” Pardue said.
This year’s topics showcase speakers who bring knowledge and experience in the field of autism, Pardue said. Campbell Conference speakers include Lillian Stiegler presenting “Supporting Communication Across the Autism Spectrum,” and Katie Prescott and Justin Sims presenting “AAC Implementation and Methodology with Children.”
Online registration is now open at https://southeastern.nbsstore. net/2026-campbell-conference
with fees of $95 for professionals (includes meal voucher to eat at the Mane Dish on campus), $75 for Southeastern field-based supervisors for summer 25, fall 25 and spring 26 (includes meal voucher to eat at the Mane Dish on campus) and $15 for students with university identification through Feb. 20. Beginning Feb. 21, the fee is $120 for professionals (includes meal voucher to eat at the Mane Dish on campus), $85 for Southeastern field-based supervisors
for summer 25, fall 25 and spring 26 (includes meal voucher to eat at the Mane Dish on campus), and $35 for students with university ID. On-site registration pending seating availability, is $170 for professionals, $150 for Southeastern field-based supervisors for summer 25, fall 25, and spring 26 and $45 for students with university ID.
For more information, call (985) 549-2214.
ROBOTICS
Continued from page 1G
Noah and Eric Lewis.
Denham Venom, now in its seventh season with 50 students, operates out of the Denham Springs High School STEM and Robotics Center under head coach Daniel Eiland.
“One thing Scotlandville is known for is our sports,” Holland said. “Here today, we have football players, dancers, basketball players, softball players, bowlers, and they are all learning that robotics and engineering is a sport too. It’s changing their lives.”
For many of the students, it was their first time using power tools or hand tools of
any kind.
Denham Venom’s student leadership directed the build day, with each leader guiding Scotlandville students through a different subsystem of a FIRST Kitbot. By the end of the day, the Scotlandville team completed its drive train, shooter mechanism and electronics board, gaining hands-on experience in Java programming, parts manufacturing, electrical wiring and drive train assembly along the way NASA House Mentor Lisa Comeaux, from the Michoud Assembly Facility, worked alongside both teams throughout the day Eiland said the experience helped his students build confidence and learn more about their own pro-
gram. “Students don’t really know what they know until they get an opportunity to teach it to someone else. It’s partnerships like this that build community and create friendships that go far beyond robotics,” Eiland said.
“Being able to mentor new teams reminds me of how far we’ve had to grow as a team,” said Denham Venom Build Leader Dominic Esposito, a senior at DSHS. “Except this time, I get to help them bypass some of the mistakes we made when we first got started.”
For more information about FIRST Robotics, visit https://www firstinspires.org.
Scotlandville Magnet Robotics sponsor Chaquoncia Ruffin, in the back, watches as her students interact with Denham Venom student Nicholas Carpenter to learn how to build a remote-controlled robot. The Scotlandville Magnet students include Jaden Gillis, Torhyan Howard, Ethyn Simon and Darrious Johnson.
Talyn Robertson, from left, Jaden Bibbins and Bryan Augillard work together in a Collaborative Build Day between Denham Springs High School and Scotlandville Magnet High to learn more about competitive robotics.
PROVIDED PHOTOS
Scotlandville Magnet students, from left, Mackaela Thomas, Kyron Connor, Kaleb Albert, Jace Noah and Chason Williams, work with Denham Springs High School students Cole Ruiz, front left, Ash Babineaux and Dominic Esposito, pictured front right, to build a new robot during a Collaborative Build Day
Livingston Parish Schools honor educators, students
Community news report
Livingston Parish Schools recently held its Recognition of Excellence Ceremony to celebrate the district’s outstanding students and professionals as well as those schools that received state recognition for academic growth and performance.
Award recipients included school-level and overall district winners. The ceremony was Feb. 2 at the Walker High School gym. District top winners
Livingston Parish Public Schools Students of the Year: Elementary Student of the Year: Addyson Glorioso, Gray’s Creek Elementary; Middle School Student of the Year Johnnie Chamberlain, Westside Junior High; and High School Student of the Year Rachel Henary, Live Oak High. Livingston Parish Public Schools Principals of theYear: Elementary Principal of the Year Lauren Kennedy, Juban Parc Elementary; Middle School Principal of the Year Brian Gunter, Westside Junior High; and High School Principal of the Year Wesley Howard, Denham Springs High School.
Justin Wax, principal of Denham Springs Junior High, was also recognized for serving as this year’s Louisiana Principal of the Year Wax was named the parish’s Middle School Principal of the Year last year Over the past year, he has traveled to schools and districts across the state to provide support and guidance to other principals, to host leadership academies and engage in meaningful conversations about building culture, capacity and student success.
Livingston Parish Public Schools Teachers of the Year: Elementary Teacher of the Year Courtney Blount, Frost School; Middle School Teacher of the Year Cady Harrell, Southside Junior High; High School Teacher of the Year Cortney Haser, Denham Springs High; and New Teacher of the Year Grace Reynerson Live Oak High. Support Staff of the Year: Kimberly Van Dinther, Walker Junior High. Health Service Provider of the Year: Lacie Fontenot, Live Oak Middle.
All school-level winners, as well as school designation awards
Albany High: Student of the Year Maggie Richardson; Support Staff of the Year Tonilynn McDaniel, Teacher of the Year Shellie Woodward and New Teacher of the Year Rebecca Crittenden.
Albany Lower Elementary: Support Staff of the Year Paige Simpson, Teacher of the Year Dawn Rawlins. The school was named a Top Gains Honoree and Excellent Pre-K site
Albany Middle School: Student of the Year Logan Landrum, fiifth grade; Student of the Year Ava Wells, eighth grade; Support Staff of the Year Caroline Thomas; Teacher of the Year James Pechon, and New Teacher of the Year Claire Overstreet The school was named a Top Gains Honoree and Opportunity Honoree.
Albany Upper Elementary: Support Staff of the Year Ashley Wells; Teacher of the Year Shelli Hagan; and New Teacher of the Year Ashley Watson. The school was named a Top Gains Honoree. Denham Springs Elementary: Student of the Year Kamia Domino; Support Staff of the Year Melanie Veron; and Teacher of the Year Erika Bates. The school was named a Top Gains Honoree, an Opportunity Honoree and an Excellent Pre-K Site; and honored for Excellence in Attendance.
Denham Springs High: Student of the Year Lana Overton; Support Staff of the Year Johnanne Robinson; and Teacher of the Year Cortney Haser The school was named an Opportunity Honoree.
Denham Springs Junior High: Student of the Year Addison Loupe; Support Staff of the Year Heather Willis; Teacher of the Year Laci Lemoine; and New Teacher of the Year Peyton Manotas. The school was named a Top Gains Honoree and honored with an Excellence in Attendance award
Doyle Elementary: Student of the Year Madison Cook; Support Staff of the Year Dennis Hornsby; Teacher of the Year Adele Houpy; and New Teacher of the Year Sharee Raborn. The school was named a Top Gains Honoree.
Doyle High: Student of the Year Landry Benesta, eighth grade; Student of the Year Brooklyn Kersey, 12th grade; Support Staff of the Year Tina McMorris; Teacher of the Year Angela Edwards, Middle School; and Teacher of the Year Darcie McMorris, High School.
Eastside Elementary: Student of the Year Ally Lorena; Support Staff of the Year Sarah Nelson; Teacher of the Year Leslie Smith; and New Teacher of the Year Noelle David The school was named a Top Gains Honoree and Opportunity Honoree
French Settlement Elementary: Student of the Year William Dyess; Support Staff of the Year Kelli Aime; and Teacher of the Year Candace Graham. The school was named a Top Gains Honoree and an Excellent Pre-K Site.
French Settlement High: Student of the Year
Catherine Phares, eighth grade; Student of the Year Brogan Cormier, 12th grade; Support Staff of the Year Dondi Duplessie; Teacher of the Year Constance Needham. The school was named an Opportunity Honoree and recognized for having the Highest DCAI Index (145.6); Highest Strength of Diploma (143.2); and Highest Cohort Graduation Rate (96.7) Freshwater Elementary: Student of the Year Vanessa Williams; Support Staff of the Year Kimberly Holt; and Teacher of the Year Rebecca Daigle.
Frost School: Student of the Year Parker
Matherne, fifth grade; Student of the Year
Emma Hardy, eighth grade; Support Staff of the Year Kristen Watts; and Teacher of the Year Courtney Blount. The school was
named a Top Gains Honoree and an Excellent Pre-K Site.
Gray’s Creek Elementary: Student of the Year
Addyson Glorioso; Support Staff of the Year
Brandi Cantu; Teacher of the Year Rebecca Pourciau; and New Teacher of the Year
Madelyn Courville. The school was named a Top Gains Honoree and for Excellence in Attendance.
Holden School: Student of the Year Rhett Crnko, fifth grade; Student of the Year Jaxson Davis, eighth grade; Student of the Year Parker Posey, 12th grade; Support Staff of the Year Brittany Ford; Teacher of the Year
Kayla Navarre, Elementary; and Teacher of the Year Tina Thompson, High School. The school was named a Top Gains Honoree and Opportunity Honoree and recognized for having Highest Assessment Index for High School (82.5) and Highest ACT Index (105.3).
Juban Parc Elementary: Student of the Year
Leighton Landry; Support Staff of the Year
Wanda Roberts; and Teacher of the Year
Rita Olivier The school was named a Top Gains Honoree and Opportunity Honoree, and an Excellent Pre-K Site.
Juban Parc Junior High: Student of the Year Olivia Riecke; Support Staff of the Year Bridgess Heintze; Teacher of the Year Monica Durbin; and New Teacher of the Year Alexia Thames.
Levi Milton Elementary: Student of the Year Zayne Stephenson; Support Staff of the Year
Jamye Clark; Teacher of the Year Alana Elmore; and New Teacher of the Year Bridget Wallace. The school was named a Top Gains Honoree and Excellent Pre-K Site.
Lewis Vincent Elementary: Student of the Year
Sarai Medina Jimenez; Support Staff of the Year Jana Reeves; Teacher of the Year Jourdan Gill; and New Teacher of the Year Ayanna Boudreaux The school was named an Excellent Pre-K Site.
Live Oak Elementary: Support Staff of the Year Jennie Rounds; and Teacher of the Year Rachel Chavers. The school was named a Top Gains Honoree and an Excellent Pre-K Site.
Live Oak High: Student of the Year Rachel Henry; Support Staff of the Year Amanda Wintz; Teacher of the Year Britney Knight; and New Teacher of the Year Grace Reynerson. The school was named a Top Gains Honoree and Opportunity Honoree.
Live Oak Junior High: Student of the Year Jadavien Stewart; Support Staff of the Year Kelcey Renfrow Gomez; and Teacher of the Year Suzanne Ney The school was named a Top Gains Honoree.
Live Oak Middle School: Student of the Year Landry Seals; Support Staff of the Year Lacie Fontenot; Teacher of the Year Priscilla Taylor; and New Teacher of the Year Lauren Wilson. The school was recognized for Excellence in Attendance.
Maurepas School: Student of the Year Kensley Moran, fifth grade; Student of the Year Sidney Lauzervich, eighth grade; Student of the Year John Rodriguez, 12th Grade; Support Staff of the Year Jaqueline Cooper; Teacher of the Year Jamie Rodriguez, Elementary; Teacher of the Year Hollie Willie, High School; New Teacher of the Year Ashley Gillespie, Elementary; and New Teacher of the Year McKenna Lessard, High School. The
school was named a Top Gains Honoree, an Excellent Pre-K Site, and recognized for the Highest Progress Index for High School (111.4).
North Corbin Elementary: Student of the Year Kennedy Davis; Support Staff of the Year Julie Vaughn; and Teacher of the Year Elizabeth Barnett. The school was named an Excellent Pre-K Site.
North Corbin Junior High: Student of the Year
Braxton Bingham; Support Staff of the Year
Miryah Plymale; Teacher of the Year Krista Combs; and New Teacher of the Year Evan Smith. The school was named a Top Gains Honoree.
North Live Oak Elementary: Support Staff of the Year Kimberly Arceneaux; and Teacher of the Year Jennifer Jones. The school was named a Top Gains Honoree and Opportunity Honoree and recognized as an Excellent Pre-K Site, for Highest Progress Index for K-8 (117.2) and Excellence in Attendance.
Northside Elementary: Student of the Year
Evelyn Colvin; Support Staff of the Year
Meshelle Pruitt; Teacher of the Year Lori Joiner; and New Teacher of the Year Kellie Price. The school was named a Top Gains Honoree and an Excellent Pre-K Site.
Seventh Ward Elementary: Student of the Year
Elizabeth Anderson; Support Staff of the Year Vickie Christ; Teacher of the Year
Jaime Winter; and New Teacher of the Year
Jennifer Thames. The school was named a Top Gains Honoree.
South Fork Elementary: Student of the Year
Avery Rose Matherne; Support Staff of the Year Mary Anne Hodges; Teacher of the Year Stephanie Clements; and New Teacher of the Year Kathryn Brown.
South Live Oak Elementary: Support Staff of the Year Brittany Bigby; and Teacher of the Year Carmen Fage. The school was named a Top Gains Honoree and Opportunity Honoree and recognized for Highest Assessment Index for K-8 (93.2) and Excellence in Attendance The school was also recognized as one of eight schools in the state to be labeled a Louisiana Blue Ribbon School of Excellence. The recognition highlights schools that excel in academic performance and make significant strides in closing achievement gaps based on state assessment results.
South Walker Elementary: Student of the
Brian
Westside
High; Elementary Principal of the Year Lauren Kennedy, Juban Parc Elementary; and High School Principal of the Year Wesley Howard.
Year Ean Boyd; Support Staff of the Year
Sarah Bankston; Teacher of the Year Kimberly Stinson; and New Teacher of the Year Sundara Bronock. The school was named a Top Gains Honoree and recognized for Excellence in Attendance.
Southside Elementary: Student of the Year Kai’lyn Moreaux; Support Staff of the Year Gabrielle Johnson; Teacher of the Year Alexis Cook; and New Teacher of the Year Sydney Lee. The school was named a Top Gains Honoree and for Excellence in Attendance.
Southside Junior High: Student of the Year Winter Lloyd; Support Staff of the Year Karen Lane; and Teacher of the Year Cady Harrell. Springfield Elementary: Support Staff of the Year Dotti Clark; and Teacher of the Year Stephanie Davis. The school was named a Top Gains Honoree and an Excellent Pre-K Site.
Springfield High: Student of the Year Kaidyn McLean; Support Staff of the Year Lyndsi Thompson; and Teacher of the Year Megan Hunt. The school was named an Opportunity Honoree. Springfield Middle: Student of the Year Emma Polk, fifth grade; Student of the Year Brooke Jubin, eighth grade; Support Staff of the Year Tammy Corkern; and Teacher of the Year Jessica Gainey The school was named a Top Gains Honoree. Walker Elementary: Student of the Year Ruth Harrinzon; Support Staff of the Year Kevia Green; Teacher of the Year Courtney Davis; and New Teacher of the Year Brooke Phipps. The school was named a Top Gains Honoree and an Excellent Pre-K Site. Walker High: Student of the Year Collin Sprouse; Support Staff of the Year Krista Thornton; Teacher of the Year Jo Lynn Hegwood; and New Teacher of the Year Cynthia Branch. The school was named an Opportunity Honoree. Walker Junior High: Student of the Year Isabella Easley; Support Staff of the Year Kimberly Van Dinther; Teacher of the Year Nicole
and New Teacher of the Year Chloe
Salassi;
Rabalais.
nie
was recognized for Excellence in Attendance.
Livingston Parish Public Schools Health Service Provider of the Year is Lacie Fontenot, Live Oak Middle School
]Livingston Parish Students of the Year are, left to right, Middle School Student of the Year Johnnie Chamberlain, Live Oak Junior High; High School Student of the Year Rachel Henry, Live Oak High; and Elementary Student of the Year Addyson Glorioso, Gray’s Creek Elementary.
PROVIDED PHOTOS
Livingston Parish School Support Employee of the Year is Kimberly Van Dinther Walker Junior High, far right,; and Livingston Parish Teachers of the Year from left Middle School Teacher of the Year Cady Harrell, Southside Junior High; High School Teacher of the Year Cortney Haser Denham Springs High School; New Teacher of the Year Grace Reynerson, Live Oak High School; and Elementary Teacher of the Year Courtney Blount, Frost School.
Livingston Parish Principals of the Year are, from left, Middle School Principal of the Year
Gunter,
Junior