LIVINGSTON PARISH EDUCATOR NAMED A 2025-2026 NIET FELLOW

Southside Elementary Instructional Coach Candace Shaidaee has been named a NIET Fellow for the 2025-2026 school year.
Candace Shaidaee, an instructional coach at Southside Elementary, has been awarded a National Institute for Excellence in Teaching (NIET) Fellowship for the 2025-2026 school year, making her one of only 12 educators in the nation selected for the program.
The NIET Fellows Program is a one-year opportunity for teacher leaders in K-12 school systems. The program is designed to provide teacher leaders with opportunities to deepen their knowledge of NIET’s systems of improvement to more effectively support the work taking place within and beyond their school and district.
Over the course of the year-long fellowship, July 2025 – June 2026, Shaidaee will take on a variety of responsibilities by engaging in multiple types of professional development. She will maintain her employment as a full-time district employee, while participating in program activities throughout the year. All travel costs associated with the required program travel will be covered by NIET, and she will receive a $7,500 stipend from NIET for her participation.
“I am excited to join the NIET Fellowship Program. I think this opportunity will greatly expand my knowledge while equipping me to elevate the practice of fellow educators and leaders across our district – fostering lasting impact through shared growth and excellence,” Shaidaee said.
Other fellows selected for the program are from Arizona, Arkansas, Indiana, Iowa and Tennessee. Shaidaee is one of three educators from Louisiana selected for the program.
DOYLE HIGH STUDENT RECEIVES TULANE BOOK AWARD
Faith Bridges, an incoming senior at Doyle High School, was awarded the Tulane Book Award for the 2024-2025 school year.
The Tulane Book Award recognized high school juniors who embody Tulane’s motto of “Not for one’s self, but for one’s own,” and who demonstrated excellence in academics, leadership and public service. The award was given to one outstanding student at select high schools across the country.
SOUTH LIVE OAK ELEMENTARY RECEIVES LOUISIANA PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AWARD

Pictured are South Live Oak Elementary Principal Amy Savage, South Live Oak Elementary Teacher Ashley Bond and Livingston Parish School Superintendent Jody Purvis.
Ashley Bond, a physical education teacher at South Live Oak Elementary, was recently honored by the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) for leading her school to receive the Louisiana School Physical Activity Award.
Bond developed a physical education program that focuses on physical activity, healthy choices and wellness. The program encourages family engagement through at-home fitness challenges for students and after-school family activities that allow parents to participate in physical activities with their students.
In the state’s presentation, South Live Oak’s program was described as “innovative” in its approach to promoting lifelong fitness, noting that students are introduced to healthy food choices through a Pick A Better Snack Program, while programs like Mileage Mondays, the EZScan running club and Wellness Wednesdays teach healthy habits and track progress with fun incentives.
BESE presented Bond with the award during a special ceremony at the Louisiana Old State Capitol in Baton Rouge in May.
LIVINGSTON PARISH STUDENTS PARTICIPATING IN NORTH OAKS HEALTH SYSTEM’S VOLUNTEER PROGRAM

North Oaks’ junior volunteers for summer 2025 are pictured, from left: (first row) Nollie George, Mandeville High School; Nevaeh Pierre, Hammond High Magnet School; Emma Huddleston, Mandeville High School; Ivy Roberts, Jewel Sumner High School; Taylor Boyd, Ponchatoula High School; Chloe Winn, Springfield High School; Hallie Hendry, Oak Forest Academy; Nora Faulk, St. Thomas Aquinas Regional Catholic High School; and Tianna Miller, Ponchatoula High School; (second row) Kate Dentro, Denham Springs High School; Kaylee McCain, Jewel Sumner High School; Lexi Childress and Riley Falcon, Ponchatoula High School; Ma’Kyra Dykes, Dulles High School; Lily Morse, Ponchatoula High School; Emma Denneau, St. Thomas Aquinas Regional Catholic High School; Rylie Jarreau, Ponchatoula High School; (third row) Autumn Lloyd, Denham Springs High School; Regina Adu, Hammond High Magnet School; Dillon Gosserand, Catholic High School; Shyanne Broxton, Ponchatoula High School; Payton Brown, University View; Haley Caballero, Ponchatoula High School; Alyssa Bonaventure (homeschooled); (fourth row) Giada Gaudet, Hammond High Magnet School; Emma Thornton, Springfield High School; Isabella Spitale, Oak Forest Academy; Kaitlyn Baham, Doyle High School; Celia Michel, Ponchatoula High School; (fifth row) Noah Morgan, St. Thomas More High School; Patrick Winn, Springfield High School; Noah Spitale, Oak Forest Academy; Elijah Williamson, Archbishop Hannan High School; Paul Kreamer, University View; Cade Vampran, Live Oak High School; and Nick Stan, Fontainbleau High School. Not pictured are Levi Johnson, Hammond High Magnet School; Peyton Lashua, Walker High School; Amelia McKinney, Hammond High Magnet School; Hailey Williams, Ponchatoula High School; Maxx Klein, Albany High School; Gresly Flores, Ponchatoula High School; Madison Capadona, Loranger High School; Jeanne LaCour and Macie Mott, St. Scholastica Academy; and Kate Fournier, Denham Springs High School.
Nine Livingston Parish high schoolers are gaining teamwork experience, learning new skills and getting ideas for future career paths this summer by participating in a seven-week volunteer program with North Oaks Health System,
North Oaks Volunteer Services Manager Malissa Gonzalez said the summer program is open to teens ages 14 to 17, and it runs from June 9 to July 25. Forty-six youth are participating this year, representing 19 Louisiana high schools across five parishes, one Texas high school and two homeschool programs.
Those Livingston Parish students participating include Maxx Klein, Albany High School; Kate Dentro, Kate Fournier and Autumn Lloyd, Denham Springs High School; Kaitlyn Baham, Doyle High School; Emma Thornton, Chloe Winn and Patrick Winn, Springfield High School; and Peyton Lashua, Walker High School.
North Oaks Health System is an independent community hospital organization with facilities in Tangipahoa and Livingston parishes.