DENHAM SPRINGS JUNIOR HIGH PRINCIPAL AMONG STATE SEMIFINALISTS
Justin Wax, Semifinalist for State Principal of the Year
Justin Wax, principal of Denham Springs Junior High, has been named a semifinalist for the Louisiana Principal of the Year.
Wax is among the state’s top 24 honorees – eight principals each from elementary schools, middle schools and high schools. A winner will be selected at each level, as well as an overall winner. A winner will be selected at each level, as well as overall.
Wax is in his fourth year as principal of Denham Springs Junior High. Under his leadership, the campus has expanded its high-school level STEM classes and created an Aquaponics Lab. The campus has also become a 1-to-1 technology school, where every student is provided with a laptop. He has overseen several safety initiatives for the campus, including the installation of an app-controlled access system, and air quality monitors/vape detectors on campus.
LIVINGSTON PARISH ANNOUNCES TEACHERS OF THE YEAR
Pictured, left to right, are New Teacher of the Year Noelle Robinson, Live Oak High School; Elementary Teacher of the Year William Hubbard, South Walker Elementary; Middle School Teacher of the Year Leslie Patin, Doyle Junior High; High School Teacher of the Year Daniel Eiland, Denham Springs High School.
Those teachers earning the district’s top recognition for the year are Elementary Teacher of the Year William Hubbard, South Walker Elementary; Middle School Teacher of the Year Leslie Patin, Doyle School; and High School Teacher of the Year Daniel Eiland, Denham Springs High School STEM & Robotics Center. Live Oak High School Teacher Noelle Robinson won the district’s New Teacher of the Year Award.
The top winners were selected from fellow nominees from schools throughout the district. The entire list of nominees for the 2024-2025 school year included:
Elementary School Teacher of the Year Nominees – Kirsten Bourgeois, Doyle Elementary; Paullena McMorris, Frost; Kindra Williamson, Live Oak Elementary; Danielle Fennell, North Live Oak Elementary; Brittany Kelley, South Live Oak Elementary; Shyla Cohran, Denham Springs Elementary; Britney Romito, Eastside Elementary; Beryl Britt, Freshwater Elementary; Nicole Osborne, Gray’s Creek Elementary; Alycia Parker, Juban Parc Elementary; Lindsay Anderson, Lewis Vincent Elementary; Hillary Berthelot, Northside Elementary; Callegan Landry, Seventh Ward Elementary; Leah Davis, Southside Elementary; Melinda Sanchez, Levi Milton Elementary; Jennifer Rogers, North Corbin Elementary; Shannon Hamilton, South Fork Elementary; William Hibbard, South Walker Elementary; Kalyn Starns, Walker Elementary; Kristy Poche, French Settlement Elementary; Jessica Janis, Maurepas School; Laura Penalber, Albany Lower Elementary; Elizabeth Byrd Gautreaux, Albany Upper Elementary; and Karen Caves, Springfield Elementary.
Middle School Teacher of the Year Nominees – Leslie Patin, Doyle High; Casey Goodson, Live Oak Junior High; Maria Olivier, Live Oak Middle; Shelby Berry, Denham Springs Junior High; Erika Romero, Juban Parc Junior High; Heather Williamson, Southside Junior High; Robert Perez, Walker Junior High; Mariela Reyes, Westside Junior High; Haley Thonn, Albany Middle School; and Dana Fontenot, Springfield Middle School.
High School Teacher of the Year Nominees – Shannon Gautreau, Doyle High; Paige Hymel, Holden; Angell Beswetherick, Live Oak High; Daniel Eiland, Denham Springs High; Madelyne Tate, Walker High School; Colton Vickers, French Settlement High; Jeanne Mayers, Maurepas High; Sarah Smith, Albany High; and Wendi LeBlanc, Springfield High School.
New Teacher of the Year Nominees – Lauren Canady, Doyle Elementary; Ashlie Byrnes, Doyle High; Noelle Robinson, Live Oak High; Maegan Spence, Denham Springs Elementary; Madison Bowman Leger, Denham Springs High; Summer Rogers, Eastside Elementary; Meghan Fuchs, Freshwater Elementary; Macie Talbert, Juban Parc Junior High; Emily Snider, Lewis Vincent Elementary; Debra Branton, Northside Elementary; Kate Simmons, Southside Elementary; Taylar Sanders, North Corbin Elementary; Hannah Swetledge, North Corbin Junior High; Amber Pomares, South Fork Elementary; Sara Myrick, South Walker Elementary; Megan Hall, Walker Elementary; Connor Locke, Walker High; Victoria McKee, Walker Junior High; Charlee Davis, Westside Junior High; and Kevin Walden, Albany Upper Elementary.
SCHOOL BOARD REQUESTING RENEWAL OF MAINTENANCE FUNDING
The Livingston Parish School Board is asking voters to renew a 7.0 millage property assessment dedicated to funding day-to-day maintenance repairs and small projects for every school building in the school district. Early voting is April 19-27. Election Day is May 3.
The 10-year renewal is NOT a new property assessment. It will NOT increase the mills currently paid by taxpayers.
The 7.0 millage generates approximately $6 million annually, which pays for half of all maintenance repairs across the district each year. Voters in Livingston Parish created this dedicated funding source in the 1950s and have supported its continued renewal for nearly 70 years!
$60,000 AWARDED TO THREE LOCAL SCHOOLS
Three Livingston Parish schools will benefit from a shared $60,000 donation from the Air Products Foundation, to promote science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM) curriculum and to make improvements to their campuses through beautification and maintenance efforts.
French Settlement High School, Springfield Elementary and Doyle High School will each receive $20,000 for STEAM curriculum and facility improvements.
Commercial Executive Director of Air Products’ Louisiana Clean Energy Complex Danna LeBlanc said the donation aligns with the company’s mission to promote careers in industry, while also improving the communities where its employees live and work.
“The earlier students have access to education about science and technology, the more likely they are to show interest in these fields as careers,” LeBlanc said. “We are proud to be a part of making Livingston Parish schools better for the communities they serve.”
Air Products recently presented a $60,000 donation to Livingston Parish Public Schools to fund beautification improvements and science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM) curriculum opportunities at Doyle High School, French Settlement High School and Springfield Elementary School. Pictured, from left to right, are Doyle High School Principal Ashley Sharp, Air Products Senior Communications Specialist Christina Stephens, Commercial Executive Director of Air Products’ Louisiana Clean Energy Complex Danna LeBlanc, French Settlement High School Principal John Chewning, Springfield Elementary Principal Michelle Brown, and Livingston Parish Schools Superintendent Jody Purvis.
SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN PROM ACTIVITIES
Walker High School’s Carah Ellis claimed her prom dress at the Unique Boutique and Clothier shopping event that was put on by the district’s Special Education Department. (Photo provided by The Advocate)
Students with significant disabilities and autism recently participated in their own prom event, “A Night to Remember,” which was preceded by a two-day secondhand clothing shopping opportunity that offered an array of formal wear and accessories donated for the cause.
The free personal shopping event was billed as the Unique Boutique and Clothier and was held at the LPPS Suma Center. Students were able to ride a school bus to the event or visit with their families. School leaders were on hand to assist with the selections.
Walker High School Teacher Angel Roberts spearheaded much of the activities.
“Going to traditional prom with the entire student body can sometimes be too difficult for some of our students. So, we decided to create an evening just for them, and to help make the occasion even more special, we collected racks of formal dresses, suits and fun attire that they could try on and select for the evening,” Roberts said. She noted that the district had held the special education prom event in the past, but it had not resumed after the COVID pandemic.