Allen Parish teachers of the year for 2024-2025 were recognized during the Allen Parish School Board meeting held Monday, August 12.
Those recognized were Candace Morrow, Fairview High; Graceanne Montou, Kinder Elementary; Erin Bertrand, Kinder Middle; Karli Reed, Kinder High; Kelly Hebert, Oakdale Elementary; Brianna Deason, Oakdale Middle; Jacob Harrington, Oakdale High; Amanda Popilek, Oberlin Elementary; Anthony Soileau, Oberlin High; Dan Artero, Reeves High; and Melissa Fontenot, Elizabeth High.
Montou was then recognized as the district’s elementary teacher of the year. She has been a classroom teacher for five years in early childhood education and taught first grade. She is certified as a Pre-K through third grade teacher. She received her degree from McNeese State University.
Bertrand also was recognized as the district’s middle school teacher of the year. She has been teaching for 17.5 years. During those years, she has taught physical education and fifth grade math. She received a bachelor’s degree in health and human performance from McNeese State University. She is also certified to teach math in grades fifth through ninth.
Recognized as the district’s high school teacher of the year was Harrington. He is currently in his eighth year of teaching math and currently teaches algebra and general math. He earned a bachelor’s degree from McNeese State University in education and is certified in secondary math, business, biology, and gifted education.
Harrington was also honored as a 2025 semifinalist for state teacher of the year. His principal, Lynn Deville, said, “We are so very proud to have Christian Harrington on our staff at Oakdale High School. It is an honor to have alumni return to their school as an educator. Mr. Harrington is a steward to his passion, which is math. He has been the leading math teacher for Allen Parish for many years. This past year, we asked him to sacrifice earning the highest district scores to teach those students who had gaps in content and were slated by data to score low. He did. Those students outperformed students who did not have gaps and were slated to score high based on data.”
Deville went on to say about Harrington, “He is a true warrior for his alumni school and to his practice of math. He is a selfless individual, colleague, and friend. Mr. Harrington always wears a smile and faces obstacles with enthusiasm. He is such a well-rounded individual and teacher that he reaches all students he teaches. Mr. Harrington is a committed team member and always rises to all responsibilities and obstacles. We look forward to the math growth he will bring to OHS. Mr. Harrington is a warrior in everything he does.”
Later in the meeting, Superintendent Brad Soileau thanked Kevin Tyler for his years of service to the board. Tyler recently announced his decision to resign as board member from District 7.
“I think if there was ever a person who sat there as a president and showed how to do it, it was you,” Superintendent Soileau told Tyler. “I was always impressed by your ability to lead meetings.”
Tyler called the decision to resign bittersweet. He said, “I hate doing this. I didn’t want to disappoint people, which I know I have. Sometimes things change, and, for me, work changed and responsibilities changed. It kind of interfered with the things I could do here.”
He went on to say, “I will say that I have enjoyed working with every member of this board. I think every board member has the right intentions of this district. I think the district is in great hands. It’s been an honor and a privilege to work with the people of District 7.”
Superintendent Soileau then thanked the board for the September supplement and went over a few upcoming important dates. School begins today, August 15. Community meetings will be held on Monday, August 26, at 5 p.m. in Reeves and 7 p.m. in Kinder; on Thursday, August 29, at 5 p.m. in Oberlin and 7 p.m. in Oakdale; and on Thursday, September 5, at 5 p.m. in Fairview and at 7 p.m. in Elizabeth. The football jamboree is set for August 30, in Oakdale. Homecoming dates are October 18, in Kinder; October 25, in Oberlin; November 1, in Reeves and Oakdale; December 6, in Elizabeth; and February 7, 2025, in Fairview.
Also, the superintendent estimated 95% of the maintenance work across the district was completed over the summer break.
Kim Rider then updated the board on JumpStart Summer and AHEC programs. She said, “I really hope all these investments really help grow our kids in obtaining the skills they need to get high wage high demand jobs, and that’s what we’re striving for.”
In other business, the school board:
•Approved budget revisions for the 2023-2024 fiscal year.
•Adopted the following revised policies:
EB- building and grounds management
GAMA- employee smoking, tobacco, and marijuana use
IDCH- home study program
IDE- co-curricular activities and extra-curricular activities
IDFA- interscholastic athletes
JBE- truancy
JCDAA- student smoking, tobacco, and marijuana use
JCDAE- electronic telecommunication devices
JD- discipline
JDD- suspension
JDE- expulsion
JGCE- child abuse
•Voted to allow the president to appoint a committee to review and revise the superintendent evaluation tool to be aligned with new state requirements and current policies.