LIVINGSTON PARISH HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT RECEIVES NATIONAL “YES I CAN” AWARD
Jared Peters, winner of the Council for Exceptional Children’s 2026 National “Yes I Can” Self-Advocacy Award
Jared Peters, a former student at Livingston Virtual Grades 6-12 who is home-based at Live Oak High School, is one of 12 students across the country to receive the 2026 National “Yes I Can” Award for Self-Advocacy from the Council for Exceptional Children.
The award was presented on March 13 at the National Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) Convention in Salt Lake City, Utah. The CEC paid the travel costs for Peters and his family to visit Salt Lake City to receive the national award.
The “Yes I Can” Awards celebrate and honor the achievements of children and youth with exceptionalities while increasing public awareness of the abilities and aspirations of students with disabilities.
Peters is in 10th grade and is currently attending classes in person at Live Oak High School.
DSHS STUDENTS LAUNCH PROTOTYPE TO PROVIDE REAL-TIME FLOOD MONITORING
Students at Denham Springs High School (DSHS) have developed a flood-monitoring prototype that can help to alert local and state officials to real-time changes in water levels and currents that, without adequate warning, can damage property and threaten lives.
The new project, while still in its prototype phase, could help Livingston Parish officials lower flood insurance rates for homeowners. The parish lacks the equipment and funding to locally monitor water and current levels in the rivers and local tributaries that contribute to flooding.
FloodEyes is the student-engineered flood monitoring system developed by students on the DSHS STEM Sharks Engineering Team.
The prototype integrates two different sensors, makes the data remotely accessible, and then makes it available in a cost-effective way where the locals could have access to it. The DSHS protype costs less than $1,000 in hardware, which is 100 times less expensive to build and deploy than the nearest USGS-equivalent monitoring system.
“I would say that the complexity of this project is not even being attempted at the highest collegiate level, much less at the high school level, and our students are making it happen because of their passion and commitment to finding a solution,” said DSHS STEM Sharks Team Sponsor and Biology Teacher Mark Zweig.
LIVINGSTON PARISH BANDS RECOGNIZED FOR EXCELLENCE
Many of the music ensembles in Livingston Parish Public Schools have been busy this spring competing for excellence awards in their various categories.
In particular, the LPPS bands turned in a great showing at the Louisiana Music Educators Association (LMEA) District IV Large Ensemble Assessment, with the following band receiving the Sweepstakes Award for superior performance on stage and for sight reading.
- Walker High School Symphonic Band – Edwin Hirst, director
- Walker High School Wind Symphony – Jeff Seighman, director
- Denham Springs High School Symphonic Band – Antonio Suarez, director
- Denham Springs High School Wind Symphony – Rachel Morgan Pfeiffer, director
- Southside Junior High School Concert Band – Rebecca Gambino, director
- North Corbin Junior High School Symphonic Band – Ryan Benoit, director
At the same time, Westside Junior High School Symphonic Band, directed by Blakelyn Pretelt, received an excellent rating in stage performance and a superior sight reading award.
The Live Oak High School Krewe of Blue Concert Band, which is under the direction of Brian Feagles, recently earned top awards at Festival Disney in Orlando, Florida, where the band earned Superior Concert Band, Best in Class, and the Silver Mickey (2nd place) awards. LOHS Student Cole Reynerson was named the Overall Best Soloist for concert bands.
The Doyle High School Band, under the direction of Jon Mannino, earned a superior rating at the TAME Band Festival.
FONTENOT NAMED HEALTH SERVICE PROVIDER OF THE YEAR
Lacie Fontenot, 2026 Louisiana Health Service Provider of the Year
The Louisiana Department of Education recently presented Lacie Fontenot, the speech-language pathologist at Live Oak Middle School, with the 2026 Louisiana Health Service Provider of the Year Award.
The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) presented the award at its April meeting, which was held at the Old State Capitol in Baton Rouge.
Fontenot was honored for her outstanding dedication to student wellness and health services. The announcement was part of the state’s initiative to recognize excellence in student support.