WALKER HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL WINS NATIONAL AWARD
Walker High School Principal Jason St. Pierre, winner of the Varsity Brands School Spirit Principal of the Year Award.
Jason St. Pierre, principal of Walker High School, has been named the 2022 Varsity Brands School Spirit Principal of the Year, a prestigious national award that recognizes those school principals who elevate student experiences at their campuses.
Varsity Brands announced the national winners during a ceremony webcast on June 15. As the winner in the principal category, St. Pierre will receive a $3,000 scholarship for his school. Visit Walker High School’s Facebook page to see a recording of the live award presentation.
“This principal understands the essential link between school spirit and student achievement and supports academics and athletics alike. This principal is personable, active in school activities, encouraging to students and faculty, and innovative in his approach to education and engagement,” Varsity Brands wrote on its website.
HORNET ACADEMY OFFERING OPPORTUNITY FOR STUDENTS TO CATCH UP OR GET AHEAD
Educators and school administrators in the Albany School District will host the Hornet Academy, July 11-22, from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. each weekday, offering academic remediation programs in a “camp-like” atmosphere.
Hornet Academy is open to all students in the Albany area who will be entering grades 1 through 12 in the upcoming school year. (They recently completed Kindergarten through Grade 11).
Programs for grades 1-6 will be held at Albany Upper Elementary, while grades 7-12 will be held at Albany High School.
“The Hornet Academy is a community-wide summer remediation program, serving all students in Albany through a fun two-week format. The academy will be run much like a summer camp,” School Board Member Devin Gregoire said.
Registration is open now until June 28. Parents wishing to sign up their student(s) can register online.
NEW STUDENT REGISTRATION
Do you know a student who is new to Livingston Parish?
New students can be registered with the district through an online portal. Required information includes a birth certificate, immunization record, three proofs of residency, custody documents (if applicable), social security card, last report card (if available), and the withdrawal form from the student’s previous school (if applicable).
A proof of residency document must have the name of the parent or guardian and the physical address. A post office box address is NOT acceptable. Acceptable documents include a utility bill, water bill, cable or phone bill, property taxes, voter registration, SNAP benefits, a bank statement, current lease agreement or home purchase documents. At least one of the submitted documents MUST be the utility bill, water bill, cable or phone bill, or home purchase documents.
Registration applications are available in English and Spanish, and available for the Literacy and Technology Center Automotive Learning Center, the LPLTC Elementary Virtual Program and the Livingston Virtual Program for Grades 6-12.
EMAIL NOTIFICATION TO REQUEST UPDATED STUDENT INFORMATION
Parents of students returning to Livingston Parish Public Schools will be emailed a link on Monday, July 11, to allow them to update their student(s) information. This update process CANNOT be done through the PowerSchool Parent App.
Any parent who does not receive an email by the end of the day on Monday, July 11, should check their clutter, spam, or junk mail folders. If the email is not there, call the student’s school on July 12 to provide correct email and contact information.
LEGISLATIVE AUDIT REPORT POINTS OUT NEED FOR INCREASED SALARIES
The Louisiana Legislative Auditor recently detailed the impacts of the state’s struggle to recruit and retain high-performing teachers, noting that teacher pay and qualifications affect student outcomes across all levels. According to the audit, higher pay would make teachers more likely to stay in the state, which would help the state develop and retain experienced teachers.
The report stated that during the 2019-2020 academic year, Louisiana teachers had an average salary of around $51,566, which ranked 12th of the 16 Southern Regional Education Board states. The average of the SREB states was $55,205, about 6.6% higher than Louisiana’s average pay during that year. The national average is around $64,100.
That same report showed that the average teacher pay in Livingston Parish Public Schools during that same time was $50,243 – more than $1,300 below the state average and nearly $5,000 below the average of the SREB states. Click here to see an article on teacher pay and the averages for all school districts in Louisiana.
The Louisiana Legislature did approve a pay increase for teachers and school staff workers in the 2022-2023 budget. The approved budget includes a $1,500 pay raise for K-12 teachers and a $750 raise for support workers. Those increases will go into effect after July 1. This latest increase is the fifth that K-12 teachers have received over the last several years.