DSHS ROBOTICS TEAM EARNS BERTH TO 2026 FIRST WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
Pictured is the Denham Venom Colorado Travel Team, from bottom left: Dominic Esposito, Evan Durbin, Jacob Duke, Nicholas Carpenter, Nathan Engles, Avery Gann, Gabriel Johnston, Baileigh O’Neal, Adam Goslinga, Nathan Thompson, Juan Rendon, Adrian Robinson, and Sophia Echegoyen. Some team members did not travel for the competition, but they watched the competition live and scouted matches to relay data to the onsite team.
The Denham Venom Robotics Team recently returned from Colorado Springs, Co., with a victory at the FIRST Robotics Pikes Peak Regional Competition and a secured berth to the 2026 FIRST World Championship to be held later this spring in Houston, Texas.
The Denham Springs High School (DSHS) team defeated a field of 33 teams that included international competitors from Mexico and Taiwan. The victory advances Denham Venom’s rankings to No. 15 in the world, No. 13 in the United States, and No. 1 in Louisiana, according to Statbotics.
The FIRST World Championships will be held in Houston, Texas, April 29-May 2. In the meantime, the team will compete at the Magnolia Regional in Laurel, Mississippi, and the Bayou Regional at the Pontchartrain Center in Kenner in hopes of advancing their ranking.
LIVINGSTON PARISH EDUCATORS NAMED STATE SEMI-FINALISTS
Wes Howard
Grace Reynerson
Denham Springs High School Principal Wes Howard and Live Oak High School Teacher Grace Reynerson have been named state semi-finalists for the state’s top awards in their respective categories.
Howard is among the state’s top eight principals, and he is the third Livingston Parish principal in as many years to advance to the state’s top round of competition. Last year, Denham Springs Junior High Principal Justin Wax won the state’s top award for principals, and the year before, former Live Oak High School Principal Beth Jones was a semi-finalist.
Reynerson is among the state’s top competitors for the 2026 High School Teacher of the Year award.
All state winners will be announced in July 2026.
LOHS ENVIRONMENTAL CLUB WINS THIRD PLACE IN STATE COMPETITION
The Live Oak High School Team Gold won third place overall in the 2026 Louisiana Envirothon, which was held March 11 at the LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens.)
Live Oak High School’s Team Gold received first place in Current Events category and third place overall in the state’s 2026 Envirothon, an environmental problem-solving competition for students in grades 6-12.
The event was sponsored by the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ) and was held at the LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens. Teams from across the state competed in aquatics, forestry, soils, wildlife, and current environmental issues categories. The 2026 topic, “Nonpoint Source Pollution: It Begins at Home,” challenged students to explore how everyday actions affect water quality. Teams delivered oral presentations proposing solutions to environmental problems related to the issue, demonstrating their knowledge of environmental science and natural resource management.
DISTRICT SEEKS JOB APPLICANTS FOR 2026-2027 SCHOOL YEAR
Livingston Parish Public Schools recently sponsored a Career Fair for all job classifications across the district, offering applicants an opportunity to meet one-on-one with school principals and district representatives to learn what opportunities are available in the system.
Many positions were filled at that event, but other slots remain available for the 2026-2027 school year.
The district is looking to hire regular and special education teachers, paraprofessionals, librarians, food service technicians, IT technicians, transportation workers and bus drivers, building maintenance workers and custodial staff.
Human Resources Supervisor Bryan Wax said applicants should contact the main administrative office at 225-686-7044 to learn more about the school system and explore hiring options.
Wax noted that educators and staff have salary ranges that can vary based on experience and education levels. Full-time employees have access to a variety of health insurance options and wellness programs, including the Live Better Louisiana program offered by Ochsner Health. The Employee Benefits Center provides a competitive benefits package that includes both district-paid and voluntary products, helping employees reach their healthcare and retirement needs